Syngnathus californiensis

(Storer, 1845)

Vernacular names
English : Kelp pipefish
French : Syngnathe de Californie

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Syngnathiformes
Family : Syngnathidae
Notes : Previously known as S. leptorhynchus

Identification
The species reaches a length of 38 cm with females being longer than males. Long and thin mouth, elongated body. Coloration is variable, ranging from beige-grey to green with orange spotting on flanks and dark blotches on back.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, from Sitka, Alaska to southern Baja California in Mexico. Lives in bays and estuaries with eelgrasses, shallow offshore waters, to 5 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species’ dependence to eelgrass habitat can be problematic as eelgrass areas are more and more subject to degradations. Still common so far.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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