Straightnose pipefish

D-Kleine Schlangennadel; GB-Straightnose pipefish; DK-Stor næbsnog; PL-Wężynka; LT-Gyvatadatė, jūrų yla; LV-čūskzivs; EST-Madunõel; RU-Морское шило; FIN-Siloneula; S-Mindre havsnål

Characters

1) Snout not exceeding half of length of head.
2) Tail pointed without caudal fin.
3) Anus at same heigth as origin of dorsal fin.
●) Pectoral and pelvic fins absent.
●) Body colouration green-brownish with blue spots; in the mating season with shining blue stripes.
Maximum up to 30 cm length, usually much smaller.

Similar species

Snake pipefish - remarkable dark or brown-reddish stripe along eye; caudal fin very small, hardly visible; anus on level of end of dorsal fin.

Lesser pipefish - snout slightly longer; caudal and pectoral fins present.

Great pipefish - long snout; caudal and pectoral fins present.

Deep-snouted pipefish - snout usually deep and laterally compressed; caudal and pectoral fins present.

Biology

Occurs in algae and seagrass beds, occurs also in sandy beaches and also in brackish water in 1 to 15 m depth. Spawns in summer; the female transfers 120-150 yellow eggs in two rows on the abdomen of the male; after 3 weeks the young fish hatch.

Diet

Feeds on small crustaceans and fish fry.

Importance

Of no commercial importance.