Home · Syngnathidae · Long-head pipefish
Long-head pipefish (Trachyrhamphus longirostris) — Syngnathidae

Long-head pipefish

Trachyrhamphus longirostris
Family: Syngnathidae
LC · Least Concern

The Long-head pipefish (Trachyrhamphus longirostris) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
40 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
16.0–91.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The straightstick pipefish is a pipefish (Syngnathidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a long, straight, stick-like body armoured with bony rings and an elongate tube-shaped snout. It lives bottom-bound on the continental shelf and enters sheltered, muddy estuaries. With its snout it sucks up small zooplankton and small crustaceans. The male carries the eggs. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Long-head pipefish?

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

Where does the Long-head pipefish live?

The Long-head pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Long-head pipefish get?

The Long-head pipefish grows to a maximum of about 40 cm.

Is the Long-head pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Long-head pipefish is harmless to humans.

Is the Long-head pipefish edible?

The Long-head pipefish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Langsnuit-zeenaald sourced
English name
Long-head pipefish verified
Scientific name
Trachyrhamphus longirostris
Family
Syngnathidae
Other names
Longnosed pipefish; Slender pipefish; Straight stick pipefish; Straightstick pipefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
40.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain 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
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
16.0 verified
Max depth (m)
91.0 verified
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 Trachyrhamphus

More from the family Syngnathidae

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