Candidate Species

The opossum pipefish= was 3D"Close added to the candidate species list in 1991. The predominant a= reas in which there is concern for this pipefish is in Florida and the Indian River Lagoon.

DISTRIBUTION & ABUNDANCE:

The opossum pipefish= is a circum-tropical species whose breeding adults are only found in freshwater associated with certain vegetation (usually panic grass (Panicum sp.) and smart weed (Polygonum sp.)). Predictable breeding adult populati= ons are limited to tributaries of the Indian River Lagoon, the Sebastian, St. Lucie and Loxahatchee rivers. This specifically limits the a= dult population to this coastal area of Florida adjacent to the warm Florida Current. All of these areas receive freshwater from inland and upland sources as part of an extensive coastal flood control system.

CHARACTERISTICS:

3D"Oppossum The opossum pipefish= has several very unique characteristics. It is the only tropical western Atlant= ic pipefish that broods eggs on its trunk rather than its tail. Brooding male opossum pipefish have been captured in tributaries to the Indian River Lago= on, Florida during a= ll months except January and February. The opossum pipefish is considered to b= e a large pipefish with a standard length (SL) of about 194 mm (7.64 in). It ha= s a long snout- 1.5-2.0 in. head length- and about 40 rings on its trunk and ta= il. The opossum pipefish is also very colorful. The most conspicuous color is t= he brilliant red lower half of the snout overlaid with alternating jet black bands. Most of its head is sienna brown with dark red blotches on each late= ral trunk ring, small silver stripes on its mid-side, and a red caudal fin with= one central dark stripe.

THREATS: <= /p>

The main reason that= the opossum pipefish is becoming very rare is that its habitat is disappearing. This is a result of several factors. First, continuous human settlement lim= its the areas in which these pipefish live. The rapid and continual growth of t= he coastal human population displaces pipefish habitat. Because these pipefish need access to very specific vegetation types and to freshwater, they have = few places they can migrate to. Furthermore, migration is limited because of fl= ood structures which block rivers and canals that offer pipefish habitat. Lastl= y, herbicide treatment, which also destroys vegetated pipefish habitat provide= s a potential threat for this limited Florida population.

CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES:

Although the opossum pipefish is not a very well-known fish and the numerous threats to its extinction have not been highly publicized, there are groups who study and publicize information they find on the opossum pipefish. They include the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution a= nd the Florida Museum of Natural H= istory.

WORKS CITED:

Gilmore, R.G. and C.= R. Gilbert. 1992. Opossum pipefish, Microphis brachyurus lineatus, Fami= ly Syngnathidae, Order Syngnathiformes, pp 73-78 in C.R. Gilbert (ed.) = Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida: Volume II. Fishes. Univ. Presses of Fla., Gainesville.

Gilmore, R. Grant. L= etter on the topic of Endangered/Threatened species and the Candidate Species Lis= t. March 30, 1988.

NOAA/NMFS Endangered= Marine Species: Candidate Species Workshop. 1998 presentation by R. Grant Gilmore.=