black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Nerophis ophidion (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms: Syngnathus ophidion Linnaeus, 1758; Scyphius littoralis Risso, 1826;
Scyphius teres Rathke, 1837; Nerophys ophidion Slastenenko, 1956; Nerophis
ophidion Banarascu, 1964.
Common names: Engl: Straight-nosed pipefish; Rom: Ata de mare; Russ: Morskoye
shilo, Igla zmeyevidnaya; Turk: Deniz ignesi.
Taxonomic description. Body cylindrical, anterior part flattened, thread-like
posterior part; no edges; dorsal fin two times longer than head; snout tubular, with
superior mouth; body greyish-yellow or greenish-brown; small dots on dorsal fin.
During spawning, individuals have the body covered by blue stripes and spots. Size
maximum 25 cm.
R7CN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level:
Subregion level: EN
Distribution, Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. Inhabits the marine
coastal zones among algae, in which the species is perfectly camouflaged. Also in
brackish waters. Juveniles are pelagic. Common along the western Atlantic coasts,
from Norway to North Africa; Mediterranean and Azov Seas. In Romania also in
Sinoe lagoon. Threats: pollution of coastal shallow waters, limans and lagoons.
Biology. Feeds on crustaceans and vegetal debris; females spawn on the male
abdomen during June-July.
Population trends. Formerly rather frequent in algal and Zoster a fields; currently
rare; occurs in catches with stake nets.
Threats. Pollution of littoral waters; hypoxia; impoverishment of algal communities
and Zoster a fields.
Order SYNGNATHIFORMES
Family SYNGNATHIDAE
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