Cosmocampus elucens (shortfin pipefish, or Poey's pipefish) is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the western Atlantic, off the U.S. east coast, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Gulf of Mexico, throughout the Caribbean Sea, and off the coast of Brazil.[1] It lives in seagrass and algae beds, typically at shallow depths (although it has been found at depths up to 78 metres (256 ft)), where it can grow to lengths of 15 centimetres (5.9 in).[2] It is expected to feed on small crustaceans, similar to other pipefishes.[1] This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying eggs and giving birth to live young.[2]
| Shortfin pipefish | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Syngnathiformes |
| Family: | Syngnathidae |
| Genus: | Cosmocampus |
| Species: | C. elucens
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cosmocampus elucens Poey, 1868
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Identifying features edit
This species can be identified by its slender body, tan to greenish brown colouring, mottled upper body and sides, widely spaced pale bars along its trunk, and pair of dark stripes behind its eyes.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b c d Pollom, R. (2017). "Cosmocampus elucens (amended version published in 2016)". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T155212A118662567. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T155212A118662567.en.
- ^ a b Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray, 1986. A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. p.354
- ^ "Shorefishes - the Fishes - Species".
Further reading edit
External links edit
- Photos of Cosmocampus elucens on Sealife Collection
 | This Syngnathiformes-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |