THE NORTHERN PIPEFISH 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     A Northern Pipefish (Syngnathus fuscus) was captured February 
     
     2, 1981, at the West River Causeway and brought in to the Fish and 
     
     Wildlife Division office. While this fish is considered to be 
     
     common in the inner waters of Malpeque bav, it is undoubtedly found 
     
     in all our estuaries where seaweeds, eelgrass and warm waters provide 
     
     ideal habitat. Their small size may be one reason why we seldom see 
     
     them, or it could be that when we do see them they are perceived 
     
     to be waterlogged twigs or broken bits of eelgrass. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     The Northern Pipefish is greenish to brown in colour, cross— 
     
     barred and darkly mottled. The colour can change to suit 
     
     surroundings. It has a slender armoured body, tubular snout and 
     
     no pelvic fins. Like the Spotted Seahorse and other members of the 
     
     Syngnathidae, males are distinguished by the presence of a brood ~ 
     
     pouch under the abdomen. This one appears to be a female. The gills 
     
     consist of tufts of several, rounded lobes instead of filaments. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The length is rarely over 8 inches; however, there are records 
     
     of up to 12 inches in length. 
     
    
   
   
    
     They swim chiefly with their dorsal fin; however, when alarmed the 
     
     caudal fin and tail are used. They feed on minute copepods, 
     
     amphipods, fish eggs, fish larvae, and probably any other available 
     
     small organisms. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The female bears the eggs and transfers them to the brood 
     
     pouch of the male, where they are fertilized and developed, being 
     
     released when they are hatched. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Information taken from: 
     
    

    
     Fishes of the Atlantic Coast of Canada 
     
     By A.H. Leim and W.B. Scott 
     
    

    
     Ottawa, 1966 
     
    
   
   
    
     by John Bain 
     
     Fish and Wildlife Division 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
         
     
    
   
   
    
     SPEAKING or: PIPES  
     
     THE INDIAN PIPE Is AcoLOURLESS MEMBER 
     
     OF THE HEATH FAMIL‘I. IT BEARS NAxy 
     
     $CRLE~LIKE LEAVES AND A SINGLE. NoomNe 
     
     FLOWER ON TOP OF A 10 To 25 cM STEM.