Description: A large pipefish that can grow up to 60 cm in length, although is more often seen around 30-40 cm, with a smooth, rounded appearance to the body. The overall colour is usually a dull yellow to light brown, depending on the habitat. There is a dark red horizontal stripe running through the eye, and vertical light-coloured banding on the body, sometimes changing to spots or dashes towards the tail end. This species of pipefish has no pectoral or anal fins, and the caudal fin is extremely small and inconspicuous. Head profile is very straight when compared with Syngnathus acus.

Habitat: Prefers being among seaweeds or in seagrass, most often in depths of up to 20 m, but has been recorded down to 100 m.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland, but generally not commonly recorded.

Similar Species: Its large size, lack of pectoral/anal fins and distinctive colouration/markings should make this pipefish unlikely to be confused with any others.

Key Identification Features:

• Large, rounded pipefish with a smooth body.
• Dull yellow to light brown colouration, often with distinctive pale coloured vertical striping.
• Red horizontal stripe through the eye.
• No pectoral or anal fins; very inconspicuous caudal fin.

Distribution Map from NBN: Entelurus aequoreus at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Entelurus aequoreus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Entelurus aequoreus

WoRMS: Entelurus aequoreus at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Entelurus aequoreus (Linnaeus, 1758). AphiaID: 127379.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Chordata; Vertebrata; Gnathostomata; Osteichthyes; Actinopterygii; Actinopteri; Teleostei; Syngnathiformes; Syngnathidae; Nerophinae; Entelurus