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Painted pipefish (Nannocampus pictus) — Syngnathidae

Painted pipefish

Nannocampus pictus
Family: Syngnathidae

The Painted pipefish (Nannocampus pictus) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–9.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Algae or seagrass meadow
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Painted pipefish is a small pipefish (Syngnathidae) from shallow reef and seagrass water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a thin, bony-ringed, brown-greenish body and a tubular snout. Strongly camouflaged, it lives among coral rubble, weed and seagrass and sucks in small zooplankton. The male carries the eggs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Painted pipefish?

The Painted pipefish has a snake-like body and is mainly green.

Where does the Painted pipefish live?

The Painted pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around algae or seagrass beds.

How big does the Painted pipefish get?

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

Is the Painted pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Painted pipefish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Geschilderde dwerg-zeenaald sourced
English name
Painted pipefish sourced
Scientific name
Nannocampus pictus
Family
Syngnathidae
Other names
Reef pipefish sourced

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Beak-shaped sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Algae or seagrass meadow sourced
Max depth (m)
9.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Nannocampus

More from the family Syngnathidae

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