Pipefish look like someone has stretched out a seahorse (they are actually close relatives to seahorses)! They have a long slender body, and a long snout. This species has 18 -19 body rings between the head and the dorsal fin.

Behaviour

They have a very small mouth located at the end of their snout but as it cannot open, it is essentially used as a feeding vacuum cleaner.

Size

Normally between 33 – 35 cm with records up to 45 cm.

Status

Common.

Distribution

You can find this species up the primarily up the west coast of Scotland.

When to see

Facts

• The genus name Syngnathus derives from the Greek, syn, symphysis meaning grown together and gnathos meaning jaw. The Latin species’ name acus means needle.
• Similarly to their close relatives, seahorses, it is the males that carry and care for the fertilised eggs after reproduction.
• Male pipefish may cannibalise their own young moments after reproducing with one female so that they have the resources to reproduce with a larger, more attractive females.