Pipefish - Syngnathidae

Marine life always fascinates mankind. Be it for the variety of seafood or the diversity of flora and fauna, the inquisitory nature of human beings has encouraged them to explore the various facets of marine ecology. From the gigantic blue whale to the tiny pipefish, marine fauna consists of a wide variety of aquatic creatures.

Syngnathidae Family
Pipefish, as the name suggests, have tubular snouts and belong to the family of seahorses. Pipefish along with seahorses and sea dragons come under the family Syngnathidae. Syngnathidae family is divided into 4 subfamilies, the seahorse (Hippocampus), the sea dragon (Solegnathinae), the pipefish (Syngnathinae) and the flag-tailed pipefish (Doryhamphinae). There are around 200 species of pipefish (under 51 genera) across the globe.

Pipefish Habitat
Pipefish are seen abundantly in the tropical, sub-tropical and temperate zones and they inhabit the sheltered areas like coral reefs and grass beds, where they can hide. Pipefish prefer coastal waters to the deep seas. Many species are found in estuaries. Almost all of them are marine, but some of them can be found in freshwater too. They feed on small fish, fish eggs and crustaceans.

Anatomy of Pipefish
A pipefish has a long pipe-like snout, which ends in a small toothless mouth with an upward opening. It has small gill openings and can roll its eyes independently. Its body is long and thin. An average pipefish has no pelvic fin but a single, dorsal fin is present and that is the only organ responsible for locomotion. Absence of fins makes them very slow swimmers. Some species have a well-developed fin at the posterior end of their body, known as caudal fin, which helps them in swimming. Pipefish having this caudal fin are called flag-tailed pipefish. Unlike their counterparts, they can swim speedily. Some species even have a prehensile tail, which can be used for holding or grasping.

Features of Pipefish Species
Pipefish can be seen in a variety of colors and designs. Some species can change their colors in sync with their surroundings. They always tend to move around in groups and sway in the same manner, as the sea grass sways with the water currents. Pipefish have a unique method of food intake. They create a vacuum in their mouth and the prey is sucked in automatically.

Reproduction in Pipefish
The process of reproduction in pipefish is almost male-centric. The breeding season is from April to October. They display their choreographic skills to woo their opposite sex. Polyandry is widely prevalent among the pipefish species. However, some species prefer monogamy.

Females have a very small role to play. They deposit the eggs in a pouch, which is attached to the chest of the males. The eggs get fertilized and incubated in this pouch. As the eggs in the pouch are attached to the abdominal wall, they get nourishment from the bloodstream of the male. Some species have a well-developed pouch, whereas some have a spongy skin attached to their chest. In the latter case, the eggs get attached to that skin until they hatch. After the incubation period of fourteen days, the pouch ruptures, releasing the young ones into water.

Soon after hatching, the young ones start swimming and feeding without any help from their parents. In fact this ability helps them to safeguard their life from the adult pipefish who may try to feed on them.

Aquarium Adaptability
It is noticed that the pipefish can thrive well in an aquarium. The tank should contain algae and corals. The water current should be kept low. Special care must be taken as far as its food is concerned. They prefer small ghost shrimp, brine shrimp, copepods, etc. As they are slow swimmers, they cannot fight with other species in the aquarium for food. Hence, it is not advisable to keep pipefish with other fish species in the fish tank. They can be kept with seahorses as they are of the same family. A pipefish which is commonly seen in the aquarium is the alligator pipefish. You can always enhance the beauty of your aquarium with this tiny, beautiful fish.

Even though pipefish do not resemble conventional fish, they add to the diversity of aquatic fauna. They are pretty, little creatures who are part of this beautiful world. So let us explore more and enjoy the wonders that nature has to offer.