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Longsnout pipefish (Vanacampus poecilolaemus) — Syngnathidae

Longsnout pipefish

Vanacampus poecilolaemus
Family: Syngnathidae

The Longsnout pipefish (Vanacampus poecilolaemus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 27 cm.

Length
27 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
1.0–11.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The longsnout pipefish is a pipefish (Syngnathidae) from shallow seagrass and weedy water of southern Australia. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a very slender, armoured, tubular body with a long, tubular snout and a finely mottled, brown-green pattern that camouflages it among seagrass. As a calm dweller it sucks up minute crustaceans. As in all pipefishes the male carries the eggs until they hatch. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Longsnout pipefish?

The Longsnout pipefish has a snake-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Longsnout pipefish live?

The Longsnout pipefish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Longsnout pipefish get?

The Longsnout pipefish grows to a maximum of about 27 cm.

Is the Longsnout pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Longsnout pipefish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Bonte zeenaald sourced
English name
Longsnout pipefish sourced
Scientific name
Vanacampus poecilolaemus
Family
Syngnathidae
Other names
Longsnout pipefish; Long-snouted pipefish; Sauvage's pipefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
27.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Beak-shaped inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
11.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

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 verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Vanacampus

More from the family Syngnathidae

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