Nerophis

Small snake needle ( Nerophis ophidion )

Nerophis is a species-poor pipefish genus which occurs in the northeastern Atlantic from Norway to Morocco, in the Azores, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. You are lacking in the North Sea, the Little Snake needle reaches across the south coast of Norway and the Kattegat but the Western Baltic.

Features

Nerophis species are 15 to 30 cm long, have a very long-drawn, thin body and no tail fin. Like all pipefish is Nerophis armored by annularly arranged bone plates. The breeding zone of males is below the hull and is without protective case. In a breeding about 120 to 180 eggs are bred. Nerophis species live primarily in coastal waters.

Species

There are three types:

• Krummschnauzige snake needle ( Nerophis lumbriciformis ) ( Jenyns, 1835)
• Spotted snake needle ( Nerophis maculatus ) Rafinesque, 1810
• Small snake needle ( Nerophis ophidion ) (Linnaeus, 1758)