(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species pipefish, northern
Species Id M010118
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - pipefish, northern
OTHER COMMON NAMES - Common pipefish, Pipefish and Fr: Syngnathe brun
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - ,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Osteichthyes,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Gasterosteiformes,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Syngnathidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Syngnathus,
SPECIES AND SSP - fuscus,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Syngnathus fuscus
AUTHORITY - Storer, 1839
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 258
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Syngnathus Peckianus Storer, 1839 and Siphostoma fuscum Jordan and Gilber,
1882 are synonyms *258*.
Dawson and Vari (1982) show a south-north cline in the frequency of dorsal
fin rays, and in the frequency of subdorsal trunk rings in S. fuscus; counts
higher northward *258*.
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species pipefish, northern
Species Id M010118
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Migrant
See Comments
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 258
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
Migrations to deep water in autumn and return to shallow water in the spring
have been noted in the Chesapeake Bay area *258*.
Of no known importance, except that the family is biologically interesting
and unusual in that the parental roles are reversed, the male incubating the
eggs on his body *258*.
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species pipefish, northern
Species Id M010118
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - MARINE
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 258
LAND USE -
Water
Bays and Estuaries
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 258
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Northern pipefish live in beds of seaweed and eelgrass in warmwater coastal
areas, salt marshes, and estuaries, sometimes entering brackish water
areas. They are carried along the coasts under the masses of floating
seaweed, and travels to open sea are rare. A study noted that the report of
four specimens taken south of No Mans Land, MA, 5 February 1930, in 34.7 m
of water, is of interest because the occurrence was unusual. Migrations to
deep water in autumn and return to shallow water in the spring have been
noted in the Chesapeake Bay area *258*.
ANIMAL/PLANT SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia pelagica)
Cod (Gadus morhua)
Cestode (Rhynchobothrium heterospine)
Trematode (Cymbephallus vitellosus)
Trematode (Opecoeloides manteri)
REFERENCES FOR SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS - 258
COMMENTS ON SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Predation and competition: There are no published reports of enemies of
this species. It may become entangled in tentacles of Physalia pelagica,
the Portuguese man-of-war. A study reported that there is a specimen about
15.0 cm long in the United States National Museum (USNM 154775) which was
"removed from the stomach of cod" (Gadus morhus) captured on the Grand Bank
*258*.
Parasites and disease: There is no information on parasites of this species
in the Canadian Atlantic region, and infestation in other areas appears
light. A study gave details of the parasites reported in the northern
pipefish from United States waters. A cestode, Rhynchobothrium heterospine,
and two species of digenetic trematodes, Cymbephallus vitellosus and
Opecoeloides manteri, are listed *258*.
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species pipefish, northern
Species Id M010118
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 258
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Crustaceans Not Specified
General Osteichthyes Egg/Fetus stage
General Osteichthyes Larva stage
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 258
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
Food of northern pipefish consists of minute organisms, copepods, amphipods,
fish eggs, and larvae. A study, referring to descriptions of feeding
behavior given by other authors, noted that after water has been expelled
from the tubular mouth, prey is taken in with the return rush of water into
the mouth *258*.
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species pipefish, northern
Species Id M010118
Date 26 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Aquatic Vegetation [specified type]: Specified in comments
G Estuarine habitat zone: specified in comments
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 258
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
Northern pipefish live in beds of seaweed and eelgrass in warmwater coastal
areas, salt marshes, and estuaries, sometimes entering brackish water
areas. They are carried along the coasts under the masses of floating
seaweed, and travels to open sea are rare. A study noted that the report of
four specimens taken south of No Mans Land, MA, 5 February 1930, in 34.7 m
of water, is of interest because the occurrence was unusual. Migrations to
deep water in autumn and return to shallow water in the spring have been
noted in the Chesapeake Bay area *258*.
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species pipefish, northern
Species Id M010118
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
Reproduction: There is no definite information on times of spawning in the
Canadian Atlantic area. Reports of males carrying eyed-eggs and larvae, 19
mm long, found in August in Cobequid Bay, NS, would support the view that
spawning occurs in June and July as reported for Long Island Sound
populations. A study noted that spawning in the Gulf of Maine area takes
place between March and August. A female in the Chesapeake Bay region, 19.0
cm long, was reported to contain 860 nearly ripe eggs. Males may be in
brooding condition at 83 mm, although the brood pouch is seldom developed in
males smaller than 90-100 mm. Specimens from Nova Scotia-Massachusetts are
reported to have 17-20 pouch rings. The eggs are deposited by the female, a
few at a time, into the brood pouch of the male through a small opening
(slit) in the pouch, and are supposedly fertilized at this time. Eggs are
0.75-1.0 mm in diameter. Incubation within the pouch occurs in about 10 d
and the young are 8 or 9 mm long when they disperse. They live an
independent life from time of emergence and do not return to the brood
pouch *258*.
Growth: Details of growth of wild northern pipefish have not been
documented. Observations indicated aquarium specimens were 70 mm long at 2
mo and length-frequency data showed an average length increment of about
60-120 mm TL during the June-October period in the Delaware River estuary.
Northern pipefish were mature at 1 yr; however a study estimated an age of 2
yr or more at maturity *258*.
Maximum size for Canadian Atlantic pipefish is 30.5 cm long, but they rarely
grow to a length greater than 20.3 cm *258*.
Description: Body slender, small, elongate, hexagonal in cross section in
front of vent, changing to 4-sided behind dorsal fin; 18-21 trunk rings,
tail rings 34-39; dorsal keels present, those of body and tail not
continuous, lateral keels from tip of pectorals to beginning of dorsal.
Head short, slender, tapering; snout tubular, blunt; mouth small, terminal,
toothless; eye moderately large, high on head, eyes can rotate independent
of each other. Branchiostegals 2 or 3. Fins: soft rayed; dorsal 37-49
(Canadian specimens), base long; caudal rounded; anal 3, minute, absent in
males; pelvics absent; pectorals about 12-14. Lateral line absent.
Vertebrae 55-60. Size usually about 20 cm long. Color variably dark
greenish, olive, brownish above, crossbarred and darkly mottled; lower parts
of sides sprinkled with white dots; ventral surface from head to vent golden
yellow; brood pouch flaps of males flesh color; dorsal and pectoral fins
pale, caudal fin brown. Color may change to suit surroundings *258*.
Predation and competition: There are no published reports of enemies of
this species. It may become entangled in tentacles of Physalia pelagica,
the Portuguese man-of-war. A study reported that there is a specimen about
15.0 cm long in the United States National Museum (USNM 154775) which was
"removed from the stomach of cod" (Gadus morhus?) captured on the Grand Bank
*258*.
Parasites and disease: There is no information on parasites of this species
in the Canadian Atlantic region, and infestation in other areas appears
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species pipefish, northern
Species Id M010118
Date 26 AUG 96
light. A study gave details of the parasites reported in the northern
pipefish from United States waters. A cestode, Rhynchobothrium heterospine,
and two species of digenetic trematodes, Cymbephallus vitellosus and
Opecoeloides manteri, are listed *258*.
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Parental Care of Young: Male
Breeding/Spawning Season: March
Breeding Spawning Season: April
Breeding/Spawning Season: May
Breeding/Spawning Season: June
Breeding/Spawning Season: July
Breeding/Spawning Season: August
Gestation/Incubation Period: 1-2 weeks
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 258
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species pipefish, northern
Species Id M010118
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species pipefish, northern
Species Id M010118
Date 26 AUG 96
References
258 * Scott, W.B., M.G. Scott. 1988. Atlantic Fishes of Canada.
Canadian Bulletin of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (219) (ed.).
University of Toronto Press Toronto, Canada:731.
References - 1