Pipefish camouflage themselves within grass beds by imitating blades of grass. They will align themselves vertically within grass beds and sway softly. (Virginia Institute of Marine Science)
Pipefish are small, skinny fish found among bay grass beds throughout the Chesapeake Bay.
Two species of pipefish can be found in the Chesapeake Bay:
Northern pipefish, Syngnathus fuscus
Dusky pipefish, Syngnathus floridae
Appearance:
Long, thin body covered with rings of bony plates
Long snout
Brownish, fan-shaped tail fin
Northern pipefish vary in color from pale tan to brown, with mottled tannish and brown markings
Dusky pipefish vary in color from whitish to brownish, with tan to nearly black markings
Dusky pipefish have a longer snout and a shorter dorsal fin than northern pipefish
Grow 6-8 inches long
Habitat:
Live among bay grass beds in shallow waters in summer
Retreat to deeper channel waters in winter
Range:
Live in the Chesapeake Bay year-round
Northern pipefish are found throughout the Bay into fresh water
Dusky pipefish are restricted to the middle and lower Bay, extending as far north as Calvert County, Maryland
Feeding:
Eats mostly tiny crustaceans
Northern pipefish may also feed on fish eggs, very small juvenile fish and other small aquatic animals
Predators:
Believed to have few predators due to their ability to camouflage themselves within grass beds. Pipefish imitate blades of grass by aligning themselves vertically within grass beds and swaying softly.
May be preyed upon by bass, gars, perch, drums and weakfish
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
Spawn between April-October, with a peak in May-June
The female lays her eggs into the male’s brood pouch, where they are fertilized
The male incubates the eggs for approximately two weeks before they hatch. He then releases a cloud of tiny, fully-formed pipefish from his pouch into the water.
Other Facts:
The northern pipefish is also known as the common pipefish. It is the more abundant of the two Chesapeake Bay pipefish species.
Closely related to seahorses
Like lined seahorses, dusky pipefish are able to change color to match their surroundings
Sources and Additional Information:
Fishes of Chesapeake Bay by Edward O. Murdy, Ray S. Birdsong and John A. Musick
