Skip to main content

Northern Pipefish

Syngnathus fuscus

Drawing of a Northern Pipefish a long eel like creature with a long thin snout and a fan tail

 

Max Size: 30 cm (1 ft.), avg. 15 cm (6 in)

Habitat: Shallow bays and estuaries to deeper shelf waters from Labrador to the Gulf of Mexico

Diet: Amphipods and crustaceans

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Northern pipefish have long and slender bodies, mimicking the shape of seagrass in order to camouflage from predators
  • The northern pipefish is covered by a thick set of bony scales
  • Along with seahorses, belong to the family syngnathidae meaning “fused jaw”
  • Just like seahorses, the males of the species keep their young in a pouch

A northern pipefish in an arc position with small scales in the middle of the body and a little bottle shaped nose

You Might Also Like

Virtual Wetlab

This digital field guide shares interesting facts about the most common species of fish, invertebrates and reptiles typically found in our Wetlab, a flow-through aquarium located at HRPK’s Pier 40.

Our River Project

HRPK’s River Project conducts research and offers hands-on environmental education that communicates the ecological importance of the Park’s 400-acre Estuarine Sanctuary.