Lesser pipefish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lesser pipefish |
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Syngnathus dumerilii Duméril, 1870 |
The lesser pipefish (Syngnathus rostellatus), also called Nilsson's pipefish, is a fascinating pipefish found in the ocean. It looks a lot like its cousin, the greater pipefish, but you can tell them apart because the lesser pipefish does not have a crest (a ridge) on its head. These cool fish usually grow to about 17 centimeters (about 6.7 inches) long, but some can reach up to 18 centimeters (about 7 inches). In places like South Wales, they are often a bit smaller, around 10 to 13 centimeters (4 to 5 inches). They are usually light to dark green-brown and have cool bar-like patterns on their sides.
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What Does a Lesser Pipefish Look Like?
The lesser pipefish has a very unique body shape! Its head has a long, thin, and round snout, almost like a tiny tube. It has a small mouth that points slightly upwards. Its eyes are small and set back towards its gill covers.
Body and Fins
The body of a lesser pipefish is long and very thin, almost like a stick. It's covered with strong, bony plates that act like armor. You'll find its main fin, called the dorsal fin, about halfway along its body. It also has small pectoral fins right behind its gills, which help it steer. Its tail fin, called the caudal fin, is shaped like a fan.
How It's Different (and Similar) to Other Pipefish
The main way to tell a lesser pipefish from a greater pipefish is that the lesser pipefish doesn't have a crest on its head. Even so, they are quite similar! A fully grown lesser pipefish and a young greater pipefish can look alike with similar colors and markings. They both have a fan-shaped tail fin and swim in a similar way, often swaying gently through the water. A special clue to spot a lesser pipefish is a black line that runs from its gills all the way down its belly to its tail. This line might be harder to see on very young pipefish.
Where Do Lesser Pipefish Live?
You can find the lesser pipefish in the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean. They live in the waters near Norway, around the British Isles, in the Bay of Biscay, and along the western coast of Portugal. There was one time a lesser pipefish was spotted in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Malaga, Spain, back in 1981. However, other reports from the eastern Mediterranean have turned out to be different kinds of fish that were mistaken for the lesser pipefish.
Lesser Pipefish Habits and Life Cycle
Lesser pipefish are interesting creatures with unique habits. They like to live in shallow waters, often hiding among plants or rocks.
What Do They Eat?
These pipefish are carnivores, meaning they eat other small animals. Their favorite food is tiny crustaceans, which are small sea creatures like shrimp or crabs. They use their long snouts to suck up their prey.
Reproduction and Young
Lesser pipefish usually breed during the spring and summer months. Like some other pipefish and seahorse species, the male lesser pipefish is the one who takes care of the eggs! The female lays her eggs, and the male carries them in a special brood pouch on his body. He keeps the eggs safe until the young fish are ready to hatch and can take care of themselves. A male pipefish can carry around 100 eggs at a time. After about three weeks, the young pipefish hatch. When they first hatch, they are pelagic, meaning they float and drift in the open water before settling down.
