Nerophis ophidion (Linnaeus, 1758)

Nerophis ophidion image

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.

Order (Scientific): SYNGNATHIFORMES.

Family (Scientific): SYNGNATHIDAE.

Taxonomic descriptions: Body cylindrical in section, anterior part flattened, threaded-like posterior part; no edges; dorsal fin two times longer than the head; tubular snout with superior mouth; body greyish-yellow or greenish-brown; small dots on dorsal fin; during the spawning period, individuals have the body covered by blue stripes and spots. Size: maximum - 25 cm.

Nerophis ophidion arealIUCN Status:
    World level:
    Black Sea Regional level:
    Subregion level: EN

Distribution:

Habitats type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors: Inhabits the marine coastal zones among filaments of algae, confusing with them, and also in brackish waters; juveniles have a pelagic life. Common in the western Atlantic coasts, from Norway to North Africa; Mediterranean and Azov Seas. In Romania they have also occurred in Sinoe lagoon. Coastal shallow waters, limans and lagoons pollution.

Biology: Feeds on crustaceans and vegetal debris; females spawn on the male abdomen during June-July.

Population trends: Rather frequent in the past in algal fields and Zostera field; rare in the last two decades; occurs in catches with stake nets.

Threats: Pollution of littoral waters; hypoxia; impoverishment of algal communities and Zostera fields, its favourite biotop.

Conservation measures taken: None.

Conservation measures proposed: Reduce eutrophication and pollution by improving the quality of riverine input and reducing pollution from point and non-point sources.

References:

  1. Banarescu, P., 1964 - Fauna of RPR. Pisces - Osteichthyes. Ed.Acad.RPR.
  2. Müller, G.I., V.H.Skolka, N.Bodeanu, 1969 - Preliminary data regarding the algal and animal algae associated with Cystoseira barbata fields from the Romanian Black Sea littoral. Hydrobiology, 10: 270-289.
  3. Stojanov, S. and al., 1963. Fishes in the Black Sea. Varna Publ.house, 246 pp.
  4. Rass, T.S., 1987. Present state of Black Sea ichthyofauna composition and its changes. Voprosy ikhtiologii, 27, (2), p.179-187, (in Russian).

Compiled by: G.Radu, F.Verioti, K.Prodanov, Y.Sivkov.