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Syngnathus floridae

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
ANIMALIA CHORDATA ACTINOPTERYGII SYNGNATHIFORMES SYNGNATHIDAE

Scientific Name: Syngnathus floridae
Species Authority: (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882)
Common Name/s:
English – Dusky Pipefish, Florida Pipefish
Spanish – Pez Pipa Prieto
Synonym/s:
Siphostoma floridae Jordan & Gilbert, 1882

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published: 2010
Assessor/s: Fritzsche, R., Collette, B., Nelson, J., Dooley, J., Carpenter, K., Bartnik, S., Robinson, E. & Morgan, S.K.
Reviewer/s: Collen, B., Richman, N., Beresford, A., Chenery, A. & Ram, M.
Contributor/s: De Silva, R., Milligan, H., Lutz, M., Batchelor, A., Jopling, B., Kemp, K., Lewis, S., Lintott, P., Sears, J., Wilson, P., Smith, J. & Livingston, F.
Justification:
Syngnathus floridae is a very widespread species with no directed fishery and locally very abundant and therefore is of Least Concern. However, degradation of its seagrass habitat is cause for concern and should be monitored.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description: Syngnathus floridae has a widespread distribution from Bermuda and Chesapeake Bay (USA), including the northern Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the western Caribbean Sea to Panama (Dawson 1982).
Countries:
Native:
Bahamas; Belize; Bermuda; Cuba; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; United States
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:
Native:
Atlantic – northwest; Atlantic – western central
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population: Syngnathus floridae is reported to be abundant in Chesapeake Bay (Ripley and Foran 2006). This species is also reported to be a common in Florida Bay (Thayer et al. 1999). A study conducted in Florida Bay in 1984-1985 recorded 33.1 individuals of this species per hectare, this study was replicated in 1994-1995 and 18.6 indiviudals were recorded per hectare (Thayer et al. 1999). This decrease in the numbers of Syngnathus floridae in Florida Bay was linked to the habitat degradation of seagrass meadows.
Population Trend: Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology: Syngnathus floridae can be found inhabiting coastal seagrass beds to a depth of 22 m. Males carry the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail.
Systems: Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s): There are no known major threats for Syngnathus floridae but seagrass meadows are under a number of threats relating to water quality such as sedimentation, coastal run-off, sewage outflows, as well as habitat disturbance from boat traffic and destructive fishing activity.

This species is not known for any commercial trade.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions: There are no known species-specific conservation measures in place for Syngnathus floridae, however its distribution may cover a number of marine protected areas.

Monitoring of this species habitat is needed.
Citation: Fritzsche, R., Collette, B., Nelson, J., Dooley, J., Carpenter, K., Bartnik, S., Robinson, E. & Morgan, S.K. 2010. Syngnathus floridae. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 June 2013.
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