Pipefish

Quick Take

• Pipefish males are the ones who carry the eggs, but what they're capable of doing to their own young when food runs scarce is genuinely unsettling. Male brooding details →
• One species of pipefish glows, and scientists aren't entirely sure why. Biofluorescence fact →
• Pipefish have a camouflage trick that goes far beyond just blending in. It involves actively mimicking something in their environment. Camouflage abilities →
• Some pipefish have struck an unlikely deal with other fish species, a partnership in which both sides benefit. Symbiotic partnerships →

The pipefish is a very long, narrow fish with an unusual pipe-shaped mouth. Some move through the water like snakes. There are some 200 recognized species within the same family classification, all of which have the same basic body shape. They are thought to be relatively weak swimmers in open water, but they seek protection from predators in shallow vegetation. Some of the most popular species include the northern pipefish, dragonface pipefish, and the banded pipefish.

4 Pipefish Facts

• Some pipefish have formed a mutually beneficial relationship with other species. For instance, the bluestripe pipefish will pick off parasites directly from the bodies of other kinds of fish.
• Pipefish can camouflage themselves by pretending to be a blade of grass. They will align their bodies vertically and even attempt to sway in rhythm with the rest of the grass.
• Dusky pipefish can change color to blend in with the environment.
• The body of the dragonface pipefish will actually glow under blue or ultraviolet light. This ability is known as biofluorescence. It may play some role in communication or camouflage.

Classification and Scientific Name

Pipefish are classified in the family Syngnathidae. This name comes from the combination of two Greek words: syn, meaning together, and gnathos, meaning jaw. It refers to the fact that the jaw of these fish is fused. The pipefish’s classification places it very closely related to the seahorse and sea dragon within the same family. Together, they share a common lineage.

Appearance

The pipefish looks a bit like a straightened-out seahorse or a kind of dragon. Their heads are shaped into a long, narrow tube-like snout that ends in a toothless mouth, and their long bodies are covered in rings of bony armor. To help them swim, they have a pair of pectoral fins near the head, a long dorsal fin along the back, and a caudal fin on the tail. However, unlike many other kinds of fish, they have lost their ribs and pelvic fins over evolutionary history. They also have very long tails that, in some species, are prehensile and thus capable of anchoring themselves to objects. Pipefish come in all manner of interesting colors, including green, yellow, red, and blue. There is plenty of diversity here: the banded pipefish, for instance, has a noticeable striped body and red paddle-like tail, whereas the dragonface pipefish has an unusual combination of black and white markings. Pipefish can range in size from 1 inch to 26 inches, but most are fairly small.

Distribution, Population, and Habitat

Pipefish are found in tropical and subtropical marine environments all over the world, but some species do temporarily live in freshwater environments and estuaries. They are most often found hiding in seagrass beds and coral reefs for protection. While most species are found in shallow water, their range can extend up to depths of some 1,300 feet. Both the dragonface and banded pipefish are found in the Indo-Pacific, whereas the northern pipefish is found along the US Atlantic coast.

Pipefish are very widespread. Among the approximately 200 species, many are classified as least concern or data deficient by the IUCN Red List, but several species — including the Estuarine Pipefish and some Mediterranean species — are now recognized as threatened or endangered due to habitat loss and other pressures. Because they live in shallow habitats, pipefish can be somewhat vulnerable to industrial pollution runoff, boat disturbances, and other human-related issues.

Predators and Prey

Pipefish are considered to be carnivorous fish. While they don’t have any teeth, pipefish do have the ability to suck up food directly into their mouths.

What eats the pipefish?

Pipefish may be preyed upon by gars, perch, drums, weakfish, and bass, but the seagrass provides plenty of protection against predators.

What does the pipefish eat?

Pipefish generally feed on small organisms such as crustaceans and plankton.

Reproduction and Lifespan

The pipefish mating season may vary by species, but the activity tends to peak around the summer months. Pipefish breeding usually occurs after a lengthy courtship ritual in which both mates swim around each other, entwine their bodies, and communicate. Some pipefish may have multiple mates per breeding season. The eggs may be attached to a spongy area of the male’s body or carried inside a brood pouch. These pouches also vary by species: some are simple folds on the body, whereas others are actual cavities covered by a flap.

There is some evidence that they can absorb nutrients from the eggs to survive when food is scarce; this essentially means that he may consume his young when he’s hungry. The males incubate the eggs for about two weeks before hatching. The small but fully-formed pipefish are then released into the water to feed and grow without any subsequent adult protection. Pipefish lifespans vary widely by species; many live around 1 to 5 years in the wild, though some can reach up to 10 years in captivity or under ideal conditions.

Fishing and Cooking

The pipefish is generally not caught for culinary purposes, but it may be kept as an aquarium pet. They are considered fairly difficult fish to keep in an aquarium because of their very particular tank conditions, including saltwater, plenty of seagrass, and a higher-than-normal pH. Freshwater is not generally good for them long-term. Due to their respectable lifespan and unusual behavior and appearance, many people choose to keep them as pets. They get along best with members of the same family — pipefish, seahorses, and sea dragons. They should not be paired with other types of animals in the aquarium.