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Pugnose pipefish (Pugnaso curtirostris) — Syngnathidae

Pugnose pipefish

Pugnaso curtirostris
Family: Syngnathidae
LC · Least Concern

The Pugnose pipefish (Pugnaso curtirostris) is a brackish-water fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18.2 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0–11.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The pugnose pipefish is a pipefish endemic to the temperate coast of southern Australia. The species grows to about 18 cm and has a slender, bony-ringed body and, unlike most pipefishes, a conspicuously short, blunt snout. As a bottom-dweller it stays among seagrass and weeds and sucks up small plankton. Like other pipefishes the male carries the eggs until they hatch. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pugnose pipefish?

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

Where does the Pugnose pipefish live?

The Pugnose pipefish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Pugnose pipefish get?

The Pugnose pipefish grows to a maximum of about 18 cm.

Is the Pugnose pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Pugnose pipefish is harmless to humans.

Is the Pugnose pipefish edible?

The Pugnose pipefish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Mopsneus-zeenaald verified
English name
Pugnose pipefish verified
Scientific name
Pugnaso curtirostris
Family
Syngnathidae
Other names
Pug-nosed pipefish; Short-snouted pipefish; Tortoiseshell pipefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.2 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
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
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Max depth (m)
11.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

More from the family Syngnathidae

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