 |
|
| fishes text index | photo index |
| Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrata > fishes > Family Syngnathidae > pipefishes |
| Alligator
pipefish Syngnathoides biaculeatus Family Syngnathidae updated Aug 08 Where seen? This fat pipefish is sometimes seen on our Southern shores, among Tape seagrasses (Enhalus acoroides). Many were discovered during a seine net survey of Cyrene Reef. Features: 20cm, grows to about 29cm. Body long and cylindrical tapering at the tail. It has a pair of tentacles on the snout. It is sometimes also called the Double-ended pipefish probably because both ends look similar. The tail is prehensile and does not have a tail fin. Females often have dark spots or blotches. The males carry the eggs below his body and tail. They are generally found in sheltered coastal shallows among seagrasses and seaweeds. May be green, brown or grey, to match their surroundings. What does it eat? It feeds on tiny planktonic animals. Human uses: This is among the pipefishes used in traditional Chinese medicine, to extract 'Hailong' considered an important drug. This species has been reared in captivity. |
 Pulau Semakau, Jun 05 |
 |
 |
 A pair of tentacles on the snout. |
 Pulau Semakau, Jun 05 |
 Eggs on the underside. |
 |
Alligator pipefishes on Singapore shores
 Cyrene Reef, May 08 |
 |
 Prehensile tail. |
 Cyrene Reef, May 08  Eggs affected by growths? |
 Cyrene Reef, May 08  |
 Cyrene Reef, May 08 
|
 Cyrene Reef, May 08 |
 |
 |
more photos of Alligator pipefishes on Singapore shores
Links
References
|
.
Periplus Editions. 292 pp.|
|