Greater pipefish
Syngnathus acus
- Scientific name
- Syngnathus acus
- Group
- Reef fish
- Rarity
- Rare
- Where to see it
- Mediterranean
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Least concern
Did you know?
A close cousin of the seahorse, the greater pipefish shares its unusual trait: the male carries the eggs, here glued along his belly rather than tucked into a closed pouch. Its thin, elongated body lets it blend perfectly into seagrass beds.
What defines this group — Reef fish
The bony fish that live against coral and rock: the living backdrop of almost every dive.
- A bony skeleton, scales, and a rigid gill cover closing over the gills.
- A swim bladder acts as a float: they hold their depth without swimming.
- Many change colour, pattern — sometimes even sex — over the course of their life.
Other species in this group
- Ocellaris clownfish
- Blue tang
- Red lionfish
- Spot-fin porcupinefish
- Mediterranean moray
- Clark's anemonefish