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Saw pipefish (Trachyrhamphus serratus) — Syngnathidae

Saw pipefish

Trachyrhamphus serratus
Family: Syngnathidae
DD · Data Deficient

The Saw pipefish (Trachyrhamphus serratus) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The serrated pipefish is a pipefish (Syngnathidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a very elongate, stiff, bony-ringed armoured body and a tubular snout, and can grow fairly large for a pipefish. It inhabits gravelly bottoms around rocky reefs. With its tubular snout it sucks up small zooplankton and small crustaceans. Like all pipefishes the male carries the eggs in a brood pouch under the tail. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Saw pipefish?

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

Where does the Saw pipefish live?

The Saw pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Saw pipefish get?

The Saw pipefish grows to a maximum of about 30 cm. On average the species is around 20 cm.

Is the Saw pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Saw pipefish is harmless to humans.

Is the Saw pipefish edible?

The Saw pipefish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gezaagde zeenaald sourced
English name
Saw pipefish verified
Scientific name
Trachyrhamphus serratus
Family
Syngnathidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Average length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock 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
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. 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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