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Longsnout pipefish (Vanacampus poecilolaemus) — Syngnathidae

Longsnout pipefish

Vanacampus poecilolaemus
Family: Syngnathidae

The Longsnout pipefish (Vanacampus poecilolaemus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 27 cm.

Length
27 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
1.0–11.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia

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Description

The longsnout pipefish is a pipefish (Syngnathidae) from shallow seagrass and weedy water of southern Australia. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a very slender, armoured, tubular body with a long, tubular snout and a finely mottled, brown-green pattern that camouflages it among seagrass. As a calm dweller it sucks up minute crustaceans. As in all pipefishes the male carries the eggs until they hatch. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Longsnout pipefish?

The Longsnout pipefish has a snake-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Longsnout pipefish live?

The Longsnout pipefish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia

How big does the Longsnout pipefish get?

The Longsnout pipefish grows to a maximum of about 27 cm.

Is the Longsnout pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Longsnout pipefish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Longsnout pipefish (Vanacampus poecilolaemus) — Syngnathidae — 2
Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF
Longsnout pipefish (Vanacampus poecilolaemus) — Syngnathidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Andy Burnell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Longsnout pipefish (Vanacampus poecilolaemus) — Syngnathidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Glen Whisson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Longsnout pipefish (Vanacampus poecilolaemus) — Syngnathidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Rebecca Hamdorf, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Longsnout pipefish sourced
Scientific name
Vanacampus poecilolaemus
Family
Syngnathidae
Other names
Longsnout pipefish; Long-snouted pipefish; Sauvage's pipefish; Australian long-nosed pipefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
27.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Beak-shaped inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
11.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Vanacampus

More from the family Syngnathidae

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