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Prophet's pipefish (Lissocampus fatiloquus) — Syngnathidae

Prophet's pipefish

Lissocampus fatiloquus
Family: Syngnathidae

The Prophet's pipefish (Lissocampus fatiloquus) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
7.9 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The prophet's pipefish is a small pipefish (Syngnathidae) from temperate coastal waters of southern Australia. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a very slender, stiff, bony-ringed, snake-shaped body and a long tubular snout with which it sucks up small zooplankton. It lives among weed and seagrass of shallow reefs. As in other pipefishes the male carries and broods the eggs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Prophet's pipefish?

The Prophet's pipefish has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Prophet's pipefish live?

The Prophet's pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Prophet's pipefish get?

The Prophet's pipefish grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Prophet's pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Prophet's pipefish is harmless to humans.

Is the Prophet's pipefish edible?

The Prophet's pipefish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Profeten-zeenaald verified
English name
Prophet's pipefish verified
Scientific name
Lissocampus fatiloquus
Family
Syngnathidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.9 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Lissocampus

More from the family Syngnathidae

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