145.28 Synognathoides biaculeatus: 15 em (Inhaea Id.).
Genus Syngnathu5 Linnaeus, 1758
About 35 species; 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Snout long, its length about 1.7 in HL; Prays 10-14 ........... S. aeus
1b Snout short, its length about 3 in HL; Prays 6-8 ..... S. watermeyeri
145.29 Syngnathus acus
Linnaeus, 1758
PLATE 23
Longsnout pipefish
Langsnoet-pypvis
Syngnathus aeus Linnaeus, 1758: 337 (Europa); Barnard, 1925: 288;
Smith, SFSA No. 350*; 1963: 539*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 103* .
Syngnathus Temminekii Kaup, 1856: 36 (Cape of Good Hope); Smith,
SFSA No. 355. Syngnathus Delalandi Kaup, 1856: 45 (Cape of Good
Hope).
Rings (18-21)+(36-43); D 33-42; P 10-14; A 3; subdorsal rings (2.00.0)+(7.25-9.75) = 8.0-10.75. P base more or less centred on level oflateral trunk ridge; lateral trunk and tail ridges variably continuous or discontinuous near anal ring.
Light greenish to dark brown, markings variable. Attains
30 cm in local waters, reported to reach 46 cm off European
shores. Often associated with vegetation such as Zostera,
this is the most common pipefish in South African estuaries
and also occurs offshore to depths of at least 110 m. Known
from the vicinity of M6we Bay (ca. 19°20'S on the west
coast) to northern Natal. Despite literature records to the
contrary, there is no conclusive evidence of the Indo-Pacific
occurrence of S. acus outside of South African waters. (See
illustration on p. 458.)
145.31 Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus: 32 em (Inhaea Id.).
145: SYNGNATHIDAE (SEAHORSES & PIPEFISHES)
145.30 Syngnathus watermeyeri
Smith,1963
River pipefish
Rivier-pypvis
Syngnathus watermeyeri Smith, 1963: 538, PI. 82, Figs. G and H
(Bushmans River, eastern Cape Province).
Rings (16-18)+(37-40); D 28-32; P 6-8; A 3; subdorsal rings (1.0(0.25))+(6.0-7.25) = 6.75-7.75. P base mainly below level of lateral trunk
ridge.
Greenish brown with close-set dark lines on head and
pale lines on body. Attains 13 cm. Known only from areas
of tidal influence within the Kariega, Kasouga and
Bushmans rivers (ca. 33°50'S). (See illustration on p. 458.)
Genus Trachyrhamphu5 Kaup, 1853
Three species; 1 in our area.
145.31 Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus
(Bleeker, 1857)
Double-ended pipefish
Dubbelent-pypvis
Syngnathus bieoaretatus Bleeker, 1857: 99 (Amboina). Yozia bieoaretata: Smith, SFSA No. 356*; 1963: 532*; Dawson et aI., 1979: 244*.
Traehyrhamphus bieoaretatus: Dawson, 1984: 181*.
Rings (21-24)+(53-63); D 24-32; P 15-19;.A 4; C 8-9; subdorsal rings
(4.0-2.0)+(1.75-3.5) = 4.75-6.5. Snout long, slender and somewhat
arched, without spines or denticulations; C degenerate in subadults and
adults, usually with 9 fin rays; planktonic young with elongate dermal
processes.
Mainly brownish, often with small dark or pale spots
on trunk. Attains at least 39 cm. In depths of 40 m from
Durban northwards to Kenya; also northern Red Sea and
Arabian Gulf to Mariana Ids. (See illustration on p. 458.)
457
Genus Syngnathu5 Linnaeus, 1758
About 35 species; 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Snout long, its length about 1.7 in HL; Prays 10-14 ........... S. aeus
1b Snout short, its length about 3 in HL; Prays 6-8 ..... S. watermeyeri
145.29 Syngnathus acus
Linnaeus, 1758
PLATE 23
Longsnout pipefish
Langsnoet-pypvis
Syngnathus aeus Linnaeus, 1758: 337 (Europa); Barnard, 1925: 288;
Smith, SFSA No. 350*; 1963: 539*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 103* .
Syngnathus Temminekii Kaup, 1856: 36 (Cape of Good Hope); Smith,
SFSA No. 355. Syngnathus Delalandi Kaup, 1856: 45 (Cape of Good
Hope).
Rings (18-21)+(36-43); D 33-42; P 10-14; A 3; subdorsal rings (2.00.0)+(7.25-9.75) = 8.0-10.75. P base more or less centred on level oflateral trunk ridge; lateral trunk and tail ridges variably continuous or discontinuous near anal ring.
Light greenish to dark brown, markings variable. Attains
30 cm in local waters, reported to reach 46 cm off European
shores. Often associated with vegetation such as Zostera,
this is the most common pipefish in South African estuaries
and also occurs offshore to depths of at least 110 m. Known
from the vicinity of M6we Bay (ca. 19°20'S on the west
coast) to northern Natal. Despite literature records to the
contrary, there is no conclusive evidence of the Indo-Pacific
occurrence of S. acus outside of South African waters. (See
illustration on p. 458.)
145.31 Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus: 32 em (Inhaea Id.).
145: SYNGNATHIDAE (SEAHORSES & PIPEFISHES)
145.30 Syngnathus watermeyeri
Smith,1963
River pipefish
Rivier-pypvis
Syngnathus watermeyeri Smith, 1963: 538, PI. 82, Figs. G and H
(Bushmans River, eastern Cape Province).
Rings (16-18)+(37-40); D 28-32; P 6-8; A 3; subdorsal rings (1.0(0.25))+(6.0-7.25) = 6.75-7.75. P base mainly below level of lateral trunk
ridge.
Greenish brown with close-set dark lines on head and
pale lines on body. Attains 13 cm. Known only from areas
of tidal influence within the Kariega, Kasouga and
Bushmans rivers (ca. 33°50'S). (See illustration on p. 458.)
Genus Trachyrhamphu5 Kaup, 1853
Three species; 1 in our area.
145.31 Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus
(Bleeker, 1857)
Double-ended pipefish
Dubbelent-pypvis
Syngnathus bieoaretatus Bleeker, 1857: 99 (Amboina). Yozia bieoaretata: Smith, SFSA No. 356*; 1963: 532*; Dawson et aI., 1979: 244*.
Traehyrhamphus bieoaretatus: Dawson, 1984: 181*.
Rings (21-24)+(53-63); D 24-32; P 15-19;.A 4; C 8-9; subdorsal rings
(4.0-2.0)+(1.75-3.5) = 4.75-6.5. Snout long, slender and somewhat
arched, without spines or denticulations; C degenerate in subadults and
adults, usually with 9 fin rays; planktonic young with elongate dermal
processes.
Mainly brownish, often with small dark or pale spots
on trunk. Attains at least 39 cm. In depths of 40 m from
Durban northwards to Kenya; also northern Red Sea and
Arabian Gulf to Mariana Ids. (See illustration on p. 458.)
457