Syngnathus temminckii

Syngnathus temminckii (longsnout pipefish) is the most common pipefish in southern African estuaries, ranging from Walvis Bay (Namibia) to the Tugela River on the east coast of South Africa.[1]

Longsnout pipefish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Syngnathidae
Genus: Syngnathus
Species:
S. temminckii
Binomial name
Syngnathus temminckii
Kaup, 1856
Synonyms
  • Syngnathus rubescens Risso, 1810
  • S. brachyrhynchus Kaup, 1856
  • S. delalandi Kaup, 1856
  • S. alternans Günther, 1870

Biology

This species is common in estuaries, usually in eelgrass beds, but has also been found offshore to depths of 110 m.[1] Sexual maturity is reached at 12 cm, and breeding occurs from March to November. Males carry the developing embryos in a brood pouch on their belly.[1]

Taxonomy

Syngnathus temminckii was until 2013 synonymised with the European species S. acus (greater pipefish), but morphological data show that it is distinct.[2] Genetic data further indicate that it is not even the sister taxon of S. acus, but of another southern African species, the critically endangered estuarine pipefish, S. watermeyeri.[2]

See also

References
  1. Heemstra, P.C. (2004) Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa. NISC (PTY) LTD
  2. Mwale, M., Kaiser, H., Barker, N.P., Wilson, A.B. & Teske, P.R. (2013) Identification of a uniquely southern African clade of coastal pipefishes Syngnathus spp.. Journal of Fish Biology 82: 2045-2062
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