Syngnathus louisianae
Chain Pipefish
NS
GNR
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Gasterosteiformes (Sticklebacks and relatives)
Syngnathidae (Pipefishes)
Syngnathus
Syngnathus louisianae (Chain Pipefish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
It may contain errors in spelling, punctuation, or formatting.
When citing, please reference the original source rather than this page.
Learn more about our species accounts.
Characters
Head length is 11.5% to 17.5% of SL, snout length is 52.6% to 66.7% of head length, and snout depth is 7.6% to 14.5% of snout length. Body depth at anal ring is 11% to 23.8%, and trunk depth is 11% to 29.4% of head length. Pectoral fin has 12 to 16 rays. Dorsal fin extends over 1.5 to 4 trunk rings and 3.75 to 6 tail rings, and has 29 to 42 rays. Anal fin has 2 to 4 rays, and caudal fin has 10 rays. Trunk rings number 19 to 21, and tail rings number 33 to 38. Principal body ridges are rather low. Superior trunk and tail ridges are discontinuous near dorsal fin insertion. Inferior trunk and tail ridges are continuous. Lateral trunk and tail ridges are discontinuous below dorsal fin base. Brood pouch is located below tail, and pouch plates and membranes are present.
Color is white to light tan, with a row of diamond-shaped marks along lower side.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from New Jersey to southern Florida and in the eastern Gulf of Mexico to 38 m.
Habitat Associations
Aquatic vegetation, such as Zostera and Thalassia, in estuaries, and has been reported from freshwater. Depth range up to 38 m.
Aquatic vegetation
Biology
Food consists of amphipods, mysids, and small shrimps and, to a lesser extent, copepods, isopods, and ostracods.
Maximum known size is 381 mm SL.
Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Feed mostly on amphipods and other small crustaceans (Ref. 27549).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: in brood pouch or similar structure; bearers (external brooders); parental care: paternal. Male carries the eggs in a brood pouch (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Data Deficient (DD), assessed 2014-01-09. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Phylogeny and Morphologically Similar Fishes
Distinguished from other species of the family by the combination of characters described.
References
Longley and Hildebrand 1941
Gunter 1945
Hoese and Moore 1977
Dawson 1982
C. R. Robins et al. 1986
Boschung 1992
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Matsunuma, M. (2017) Syngnathus chihiroe, a new species of pipefish (Syngnathidae) from southern Japan. Zootaxa 4232(3):385-396.
Comments On Syngnathus louisianae