Identification
Reaches 12 to 17 cm, slimmer and shorter than the greater pipefish. Body covered in bony rings. Short, straight snout. Green to brown, well camouflaged in seagrass.
Ecology
Lives in shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and tidal areas. The male carries the eggs. Tolerates brackish water well.
In the Netherlands
The most common pipefish in Dutch waters. Abundant in the Wadden Sea. Ecologically important as prey for terns and other seabirds.
