Alligator pipefish

Syngnathoides biaculeatus

Syngnathoides biaculeatus is a type of fish from the family of pipefish ( Syngnathidae ), the ( west to Knysna ) occurs in the Red Sea and tropical Indo-Pacific from the coast of East Africa and South Africa to the southern Japan, New South Wales and Samoa.

Features

Syngnathoides biaculeatus is 28 to 29 cm long and has a very elongated, thin body. It is green to brown or gray in color variable according to habitat. During courtship, the females show a striking coloration on the ventral side. The snout to the upper permanent mouth is extended pipette -like.

• Fins formula: Dorsal 38-48, Anal 4

Way of life

Syngnathoides biaculeatus lives mainly in protected lagoons between algae, seagrasses or driving Tangen. In case of danger the fish can jump over the water surface to the top of the plants and dry lying there remain some time. It feeds on zooplankton, small crustaceans and fish larvae. As with all pipefish, the eggs are transferred during mating by the male and then worn open at the tail base, until the young hatch.

System

Syngnathoides biaculeatus is assigned in most classifications of polyphyletic suborder " Syngnathinae ". Although the breeding zone is associated with the males in front of the anus, located under the fuselage, so Syngnathoides biaculeatus the Gastrophori, the species is listed as the sister group of a clade of Hypselognathus, Kaupus and Vanacampus deep within the Urophori, the pipefish, where the breeding zone behind the anus to the tail underside is.

Relationship to man

Syngnathoides biaculeatus is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is (rarely ) kept as an aquarium fish. It already managed to retighten the species in captivity.