Chain pipefish facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chain pipefish
Conservation status
Data Deficient (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification

The chain pipefish (Syngnathus louisianae) is a fascinating pipefish species. It's related to seahorses and has a long, thin body. You can find this fish in the western Atlantic Ocean. Its home ranges from Virginia and Bermuda down to the northern Gulf of Mexico, Campeche, and Jamaica. However, it doesn't live in Bahamas.

This pipefish prefers warm, marine waters, especially near reefs. It can grow quite long, up to 38 centimeters (about 15 inches)!

What Does a Chain Pipefish Look Like?

The chain pipefish is part of the Sygnathidae family, which includes seahorses. It has a long, slender body covered in tough, bony plates. These plates act like armor!

Body Features

This fish has a medium-sized head and a long snout. Its mouth is very small and located at the end of its snout. It has a rounded tail fin. The fin on its back (dorsal fin) is a good size. However, its bottom fin (anal fin) is tiny, and it doesn't have any pelvic fins.

The underside of its body is usually flat or slightly curved inwards. Male chain pipefish have a special pouch along their tail. This pouch is used to carry eggs!

Size and Color

The chain pipefish is one of the biggest pipefish species in the western North Atlantic. It can reach a maximum length of 381 millimeters (15 inches).

Its body usually has a light color, like white or light brown. A dark brown stripe runs along its sides and extends onto its snout. You might also see lighter, circular bands around its body between each bony ring. These bands are usually visible along its tail. The fins are mostly clear, but the tail fin can be a bit dusky.

What Do Chain Pipefish Eat?

Chain pipefish are carnivores, meaning they eat other animals. They mostly feed on small crustaceans. These tiny creatures include shrimp, mysids (small, shrimp-like animals), and amphipods (tiny, shrimp-like animals with flattened bodies).

Where Do Chain Pipefish Live?

Chain pipefish are often found in areas with lots of plants. They are common in sea grass beds or among the stems of marsh grasses and reeds. These spots are usually close to the shore in places like the Northern Gulf of Mexico.

Young chain pipefish, called juveniles, can also be found in surface waters. They sometimes live as far as 80 kilometers (about 50 miles) offshore!

How Do Chain Pipefish Reproduce?

The way chain pipefish reproduce is quite unique, similar to seahorses. The male pipefish is the one who carries the eggs!

Egg Incubation

Female pipefish transfer their eggs to a special pouch on the male's tail. This pouch is called a brood pouch. Unlike most seahorses, pipefish in the Syngnathus group carry their eggs in an inverted (upside-down) pouch.

After the female transfers the eggs, fertilization happens. The male then incubates the eggs until they develop into tiny juveniles.

Breeding Season

Chain pipefish mainly reproduce during the spring and early summer, from April to July. However, they can continue to reproduce in most months in places like Mississippi, except for December and February. Males carrying eggs are more often found offshore.

Eggs and Brood Size

The fertilized eggs are small, ranging from 0.6 to 1.4 millimeters in diameter. They are arranged in one or two layers inside the pouch. A single male pipefish can carry a lot of eggs! Depending on his size, a male might brood anywhere from 454 to 898 eggs at once.

Where Are Chain Pipefish Found?

Chain pipefish are found along the Atlantic coast from New Jersey and Maryland, heading south. They also live along the Gulf Shores. You can also find them in Tabasco and Campeche, Mexico.

See also

In Spanish: Syngnathus louisianae para niños