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Dusky pipefish

Syngnathus floridae

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Fun Facts

Dusky pipefish mate with multiple partners in their lifetime.

Species Type:

Fishes

Common Name(s):

Dusky pipefish

Size:

Dusky pipefish can grow up to 10 inches (26 centimeters).

Diet:

Dusky pipefish are carnivorous fish, feeding on plankton and small crustaceans like shrimp and crabs.

Range & Habitat:

The dusky pipefish lives in seagrass beds across the western Atlantic, Gulf and Caribbean Sea.

Details:

These slender fish can change color and blend into seagrass and algae to avoid predators. They often mate with more than one partner. The male carries and nourishes the eggs in a brood pouch under his tail. In time, young pipefish swim out from the pouch, fully formed and independent. They’re born bright yellow and darken to brownish-green as they grow.