Teleostei (teleosts) >
Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and seahorses) >
Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses) > Syngnathinae
Etymology: Syngnathus: Greek, syn, symphysis = grown together + Greek, gnathos = jaw (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: A toponym referring to the type locality; Laguna Makax, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 2 m (Ref. 126547). Tropical
Distribution
Territories | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri
Western Central Atlantic: Mexico.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 5.3 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 8.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 118196)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 22 - 26; Anal soft rays: 3. Caudal rays, 10. Dorsal fin covering a total of 5.5-7 rings, usually 1.5-3 trunk rings and 3-4 and 3/4 tail rings; trunk rings 14-15; tail rings 31-33. Brood pouch covering first 9-11 tail rings with 5-16 eggs in pouch. Adult females deep-bellied, usually without the characteristic V markings on the sides of abdomen; otherwise similar to S. scovelli (Ref. 41100).
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
Occurs in bottoms with dense algae and seagrass (Ref. 126547). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Male carries the eggs in a brood pouch (Ref. 205).
Herald, E.S. and C.E. Dawson, 1972. A new subspecies of the gulf pipefish, Syngnathus scovelli makaxi (Pisces: Syngnathidae). Copeia 1972(4):781-784. (Ref. 41258)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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