The needlefish, despite its fragile physique, is one of the most dangerous fish species for humans, and many cases of harm to humans, including death, have already been recorded. However, in addition to its unusual appearance, the pipefish also has other interesting features that deserve attention. Let's consider the characteristics and features of the needle fish, its place in the ecosystem, as well as the characteristics of reproduction.
History of the discovery of pipefish
Predatory pipefish are known for having a long row of sharp teeth that resemble a saw blade.But it’s not just their teeth that make them dangerous, it’s the combination of those teeth and their fast speed of movement. Long-snouted pipefish usually swim near the surface of the water and are known to jump over small boats. Interestingly, when jumping, needlefish reach speeds of up to sixty kilometers per hour, which leads to the fact that people who get in their way are pierced by them and receive serious, sometimes fatal injuries as a result.
Although incidents of pipefish attacks are rare, several such episodes have been reported in recent years. In 2019, an Indonesian boy was injured while fishing when one of the needlefish struck him in the neck. Fortunately, he received medical attention and survived the injury, but other stories did not end so well. For example, in 2017, a Thai resident died after being attacked by one such needle fish.
In 2014, a strange incident involving a pipefish occurred in Vietnam. A Russian tourist almost died when a fish jumped out of the water and bit into her neck, leaving pieces of its needle-sharp teeth inside. This is considered an exceptional case, as pipefish traditionally impale their victims.
Description
The family contains approximately three hundred species of fish, among which there is a genus of seahorses. An example is the prehensile-tailed pipefish, which is found in the Bahamas and has characteristics intermediate between the seahorse and the pipefish. The colors of these representatives range from black to red and yellow, and spots are often observed.
Appearance
Both marine and freshwater pipefish have long, slender bodies with flattened jaws that contain many small teeth.Adults can range in size from two and a half to 60 cm, while seahorses grow to 4-20 cm and have a long tail that allows them to quickly stick to various algae and underwater objects.
It can be quite difficult to distinguish a male from a female; however, during the mating season, males often develop dark edging on the dorsal and anal fins in addition to a small hump appearing on the back of the head and a yellow-gold coloration on the abdomen, while the jaw becomes reddish. In addition, both sexes lack pelvic fins, and the pectoral fins are almost invisible, but serve as the main tool for movement. The color of these fish is very diverse: red, yellow, purple, green, brown, gray or white, as well as with various spots.
This fish is usually quite calm, but it is a predator. It is capable of changing its color to blend in with its surroundings and has an advanced form of mimicry that makes it almost indistinguishable from algae or coral.
Habitat
This unusual looking fish is found in Thailand, India, Ceylon and the Malawi Peninsula. She prefers to live in rivers, swamps, both large and small lakes. Marine species are found near sandy shores where various corals and algae grow. Some representatives are even found in the waters of the open ocean.
Pipefish are found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. It is also found in coastal waters from California to Chile in the Pacific Ocean and from Massachusetts to Argentina in the Atlantic Ocean. Pipefish are also found in Mediterranean countries, Japan, India, Australia and other regions.
Reproduction
The spawning process is quite labor-intensive and interesting.The best time for their reproduction is from late spring to early autumn, when it rains. The male pipefish will incubate the eggs in his special brood pouch. He attracts the female with a specific dance, after which she lays eggs in the pouch, which are then fertilized.
During the breeding season, one female can lay about a hundred eggs. The fry, hatched on the eighth to tenth day, feed on dust particles of animal origin. However, larger hatchlings are capable of eating their unhatched brothers and sisters.
If you are planning to breed these fish, keep in mind that it is not an easy process. The fish reach sexual maturity in the 12th month and require cool water during the mating season, which usually occurs during the monsoon season. You will have to feed them more than usual and change the water frequently.
Spawning occurs in the morning hours. The fry should be given small food while they are growing, and if some of them are not developing equally quickly, they should be kept separate from their more mature siblings, as they may eventually eat each other.
Under favorable conditions, needlefish can live up to four years without suffering from any diseases. However, if the fish is fed with low-quality and spoiled food, it will become infected with parasites. You should also clean your aquarium regularly to prevent further problems from occurring.
If you take a fish from its natural habitat and place it in an aquarium, it will experience stress due to the change in environment. This will cause mucus to accumulate around the mouth and near the rear fin, but this can be avoided by taking some water from the previous habitat and pouring it into the new aquarium.
