Teleostei (teleosts) >
Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and seahorses) >
Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses) > Nerophinae
Etymology: Microphis: Greek, mikros = small + greek, ophis = serpent (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Bleeker.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 5 m (Ref. 86942). Subtropical; 35°N - 32°S
Asia and Oceania: Sri Lanka, southern India, Nicobar Islands and eastward to Japan and the Society Islands. Records from Puerto Rico and USA need confirmation. Africa: east coast from Kenya south to KwaZulu-Natal area, also Madagascar and Mauritius (Ref. 7248, 52193). Africa: Côte d'Ivoire (Ref. 272). Western Atlantic: Atlantic coast of Florida, Bahamas, northern and southern Gulf of Mexico, Antilles, central and south American coasts to Brazil (Ref. 26938).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 12 - ? cm
Max length : 22.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5316)
Occurs in relatively shallow (25-150 cm), still to slow-flowing water (Ref. 6028). Inhabits freshwater streams, rivers and estuaries. Juveniles and subadults are usually found in estuaries while adults are found upstream in freshwater areas. Feeds on worms, crustaceans and zooplankton. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Not seen in markets (Ref. 12693)
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Female deposits eggs on the ventral surface of the male trunk's or tail , where they are incubated for several weeks. Males may be brooding at 12 cm SL (Ref. 5316).
Dawson, C.E., 1985. Indo-Pacific pipefishes (Red Sea to the Americas). The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Ocean Springs, Mississippi, USA. (Ref. 5316)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 25.4 - 29.2, mean 28.1 °C (based on 3402 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00093 (0.00036 - 0.00242), b=3.05 (2.83 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.41 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (17 of 100).
