Syngnathus floridae (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882)
Dusky pipefish
photo by American Littoral Society - Southeast Chapter

Family:  Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Syngnathinae
Max. size:  26 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 18 - 55 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: disjunct distribution from Bermuda and Chesapeake Bay (USA), including the northern Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the western Caribbean Sea (Ref. 37039), to Panama.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-35. Preorbital bone appears as broad plate in front of eye (Ref. 26938).
Biology:  Abundant in seagrass beds along coasts. Northern populations move offshore during colder months (Ref. 26938). Found mostly at 5 m or less (Ref. 126547). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Feeds mostly on small grass shrimp and other small crustaceans (Ref. 93252).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 July 2016 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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