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Fringed pipefish (Anarchopterus criniger) — Syngnathidae

Fringed pipefish

Anarchopterus criniger
Family: Syngnathidae
LC · Least Concern

The Fringed pipefish (Anarchopterus criniger) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The fringed pipefish is a small pipefish (Syngnathidae) from the western Atlantic. The species has a very slender, bony-ringed armoured body and a tubular snout. It keeps among seagrass and seaweed of shallow coastal waters, where its thin body blends in among the plant stems. With its tubular snout it sucks up small zooplankton and small crustaceans. Like all pipefishes the male carries the eggs in a brood pouch under the tail. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Fringed pipefish?

The Fringed pipefish has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Fringed pipefish live?

The Fringed pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Fringed pipefish get?

The Fringed pipefish grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Fringed pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Fringed pipefish is harmless to humans.

Is the Fringed pipefish edible?

The Fringed pipefish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Franje-zeenaald sourced
English name
Fringed pipefish verified
Scientific name
Anarchopterus criniger
Family
Syngnathidae
Other names
Fringed pipefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Anarchopterus

More from the family Syngnathidae

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