Syngnathus springeri
Bull Pipefish
Collection Details
Event Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Gasterosteiformes (Sticklebacks and relatives)
Syngnathidae (Pipefishes)
Syngnathus
Syngnathus springeri (Bull 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.
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Characters
Slender and elongate, with a moderately long snout and a relatively high number of trunk rings. Head length is 10.5% to 13.2% of SL, snout length is 50% to 58.8% of head length, and snout depth is 8.5% to 23.8% of snout length. Body depth at anal ring is 12.7% to 32.3%, and trunk depth is 15.6% to 45.5% of head length. Pectoral fin is 12.6% to 23.8% of head length and has 12 to 14 rays. Dorsal fin extends over 3 to 4.75 trunk rings and 3.5 to 5 tail rings, and has 32 to 38 rays. Anal fin has 2 to 4 rays, and caudal fin has 10 rays. Trunk rings number 22 to 24, and tail rings number 34 to 37 rings. 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.
Pale with broad dark saddles or bands on trunk and tail.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from Massachusetts to the Florida Keys, and in the Bahamas and the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Habitat Associations
Occurs between 18 and 128 m, up to 185 km offshore, throughout the water column.
Biology
Maximum known size is 355 mm SL.
Inhabits offshore waters, usually from 18-127 m depth. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
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: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2014-01-09. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
References
Herald 1942
Bohlke and Chaplin 1968
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 springeri