Greater pipefish (Syngnathus acus) fish species and information / pictures of Greater pipefish - Syngnathus acus

Greater pipefish (Syngnathus acus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Syngnathus acus

Common Name
Greater pipefish

Biology
Found in coastal and estuarine waters to depths of at least 110 m (Ref. 4281); on sand, mud and rough bottoms. Common amongst algae and eel-grass (Zostera) (Ref. 6733). Feeds on copepods, amphipods and decapod crustaceans (Ref. 85544). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Pipefishes and Seahorses (Syngnathiformes)

Family

Pipefishes and seahorses (Syngnathidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Norway, Faroes and British Isles to Western Sahara, Senegambia, and from Namibia to Cape of Good Hope and northward to the coast of Zululand in the western Indian Ocean (Ref. 4127). Also throughout the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black seas. Despite literature records, occurrence in the Indo-Pacific outside South African waters lacks conclusive evidence (Ref. 4281).

Range

71°N - 35°S, 19°W - 42°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

110 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 0 - 110 m (Ref. 4281), usually 3 - 12 m

Trophic Level

3.39 s.e. 0.55 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

50.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: of no interest

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (36 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec=200)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated