Home · Syngnathidae · Barred pipefish
Barred pipefish (Syngnathus auliscus) — Syngnathidae

Barred pipefish

Syngnathus auliscus
Family: Syngnathidae
LC · Least Concern

The Barred pipefish (Syngnathus auliscus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The barred pipefish is a pipefish of the family Syngnathidae from the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 18 cm and has a very elongate, thin, armoured body with a long tubular snout and faint crossbars. It usually stays among water plants in bays and estuaries, and sometimes among floating weed. With its tubular snout it sucks up small crustaceans and other zooplankton like a pipette. As in seahorses and other pipefishes the male carries the eggs in a brood pouch under the tail, where the young develop. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Barred pipefish?

The Barred pipefish has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Barred pipefish live?

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

How big does the Barred pipefish get?

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

Is the Barred pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Barred pipefish is harmless to humans.

Is the Barred pipefish edible?

The Barred pipefish is not usually eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Geringde zeenaald sourced
English name
Barred pipefish verified
Scientific name
Syngnathus auliscus
Family
Syngnathidae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

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

Same genus Syngnathus

More from the family Syngnathidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →