Nerophis ophidion is slender and elongate, with a smooth worm like body. Females may grow to 30 cm, males to 20 cm. The slender snout is straight and equal in length to the rest of the head, with a small mouth. Fins are absent apart from a small dorsal fin. Variable in colour but usually green, darker dorsally, lighter green on the sides with whiteish-green or yellow below. Females may have pale blue markings on head and underside, and some fish have vertical rows of spots on the front half of the body.As with seahorses, eggs are incubated by the male pipefish, which carries the eggs in a shallow abdominal groove. Swimming occurs through undulations of the dorsal fin. Spawning occurs from May to August.

Inhabit algal zone or eel-grass (Zostera) (Ref. 6733). Adults spawn in May - August . Feed on small crustaceans and fish fry (Ref. 35388). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Consistent paternity is ensured despite brooding of embryos on the outside the male's body. Events of cuckoldry by sneaker males is ruled out through genetic paternity analyses based on molecular markers (Ref. 81011). Each male carries eggs from a single female but females may deposit eggs on several brooding pouches (Ref. 81011).

Belgian Exclusive Economic Zone, Black Sea, British Isles, European waters (ERMS scope), Greek Exclusive Economic Zone, Irish Exclusive economic Zone, Israeli Exclusive Economic Zone [Mediterranean part], Polish Exclusive Economic Zone, Portugese Exclusive Economic Zone, Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone, United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone, Wimereux

Eastern Atlantic: Norway to Morocco (excluding region from Denmark to Netherlands), also throughout the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

Maximum size: 290 mm TL

29.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 2058)); 30 cm TL (female)

Anal and pectoral fin absent. Anal opening below front end of the dorsal fin, 28-33 body rings. Has a strait snout (Ref. 35388).

Depth range based on 126 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 65 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0 - 222
  Temperature range (°C): 6.889 - 10.246
  Nitrate (umol/L): 2.655 - 11.531
  Salinity (PPS): 34.595 - 35.445
  Oxygen (ml/l): 5.848 - 6.375
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.394 - 0.771
  Silicate (umol/l): 2.118 - 4.255

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0 - 222

Temperature range (°C): 6.889 - 10.246

Nitrate (umol/L): 2.655 - 11.531

Salinity (PPS): 34.595 - 35.445

Oxygen (ml/l): 5.848 - 6.375

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.394 - 0.771

Silicate (umol/l): 2.118 - 4.255
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

 A coastal species living mostly between about 5 to 25 metres deep and rarely found on the shore. It is commonly found amongst seagrass and long stranded seaweed such as bootlace weed Chorda filum, and hence can be found in both rocky and sandy areas. Nerophis ophidion can also tolerate brackish waters of varying salinity.

Depth: 0 - 15m.
Recorded at 15 meters.

Habitat: demersal.

demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 2 - 15 m (Ref. 6733)

Consistent paternity is ensured despite brooding of embryos on the outside of the male's body. Events of cuckoldry by sneaker males is ruled out through genetic paternity analyses based on molecular markers (Ref. 81011). Each male carries eggs from a single female but females may deposit eggs on several brooding pouches (Ref. 81011).

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1

Not Evaluated

fisheries: of no interest