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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Temperate

Worm pipefish

Nerophis lumbriciformis Jenyns, 1835
Max Length
15 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4
Depth
0–30 m
Climate
Temperate
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
29.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Intertidal to about 30 m , among rocks or holdfasts and lower branches of algae . Spawn in the summer months. Become sexually mature at an age of 2 years. Feed on small crustaceans and fish fry . Larvae are attached to the ventral surface of the males . Ovoviviparous . Parental care is exclusively paternal . The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail .

Scientific Name
Nerophis lumbriciformis
Authority
Jenyns, 1835
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Temperate
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
15 cm
Depth Range
0–30 m
Trophic Level
4
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
29.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Pectoral and caudal fins absent. Anal opening below front end of the dorsal fin. With 17-19 body rings. The snout is short and bent upwards .: eel-like.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Worm pipefish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Worm pipefish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Males brood their offspring attached to their flattened ventral surface. All throughout the gestation period, parental care is strictly paternal. No further care is needed once the newborn juveniles become free-swimming . Sex roles are reversed in this species. The females are the courting sex and change color more intensely than the males . Unlike in other pipefishes, the courtship ritual takes place in close contact with the substratum which may characterise adaptation to typical intertidal conditions .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 30 m . Temperate; 63°N - 21°N, 18°W - 13°E

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
4±0.67
Food Items

small crustaceans and fish fry (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00095 × L3.05 (TL)
Max TL
15cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2024

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
29.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
4
Apex / Top predator
Climate Zone
Temperate
Described By
Jenyns, 1835

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Worm Pipefish
🌍BRE garennou
🏳️Catalan Serpeta · serpeta de morro curt
🌍CES jehla červovitá
🌍CYM pibell fôr leiaf · Pibellau Môr Lleiaf
🇩🇰Danish Krumsnudet Næbsnog
🇩🇪German Krummschnäuzige Schlangennadel · Wurmfisch · Wurmfish
🌍EUS orratz zizarekara
🇫🇮Finnish Käyränokkaneula
🇫🇷French Nerophis lombriciforme · Nérophis lombricoïde · nez droit · petite vipère de mer · tuyau de pipe
🌍GLG Agulla brava lombriga
🇮🇹Italian Pesce ago lombrico
🇳🇱Dutch kleine wormzeenaald · wormzeenaald
🌍NNO krumsnuta havnål · makknål
🌍NOB krumsnutet havnål · makknål
🇳🇴Norwegian Krumsnutet havnål
🇵🇹Portuguese Agulhinha · Peixe-cachimbo-agulha
🇷🇺Russian Червевидная морская игла
🇪🇸Spanish Serpeta
🇸🇪Swedish Krumnosig havsnål
🌍UKR Іглиця червоподібна

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Syngnathus lumbriciformis Jenyns 1835 Synonym
Worm pipefish Shiino 1978 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 4 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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