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Candidate
Species
The opossum pipefish was added to the candidate species
list in 1991. The predominant areas 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 populations are limited to tributaries of the Indian River Lagoon, the
Sebastian, St. Lucie and Loxahatchee rivers. This specifically limits the
adult 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:
 The
opossum pipefish has several very unique characteristics. It is the only
tropical western Atlantic pipefish that broods eggs on its trunk rather
than its tail. Brooding male opossum pipefish have been captured in
tributaries to the Indian River Lagoon, Florida
during all months except January and February. The opossum pipefish is considered
to be a large pipefish with a standard length (SL) of about 194 mm (7.64
in). It has a long snout- 1.5-2.0 in. head length- and about 40 rings on
its trunk and tail. The opossum pipefish is also very colorful. The most
conspicuous color is the 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 lateral trunk ring, small silver stripes on its
mid-side, and a red caudal fin with one central dark stripe.
THREATS:
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 limits the areas in which these pipefish live.
The rapid and continual growth of the 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 flood structures which
block rivers and canals that offer pipefish habitat. Lastly, herbicide
treatment, which also destroys vegetated pipefish habitat provides 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 and the Florida Museum of Natural
History.
WORKS CITED:
Gilmore, R.G. and C.R. Gilbert. 1992. Opossum pipefish, Microphis brachyurus lineatus, Family
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. Letter on the topic of Endangered/Threatened species
and the Candidate Species List. March
30, 1988.
NOAA/NMFS Endangered Marine Species: Candidate Species Workshop. 1998
presentation by R. Grant Gilmore.
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