Shortfin Pipefish 

Cosmocampus elucens

This pipefish was found on a sandy bottom next to some shoreline rocks in about 7 feet of water. Note how much longer this pipefish's snout is compared to the Harlequin's.  Pipefish belong the same family as seahorses and sea dragons. They have fused jaws and ingest their food (small crustaceans, like Mysid Shrimp) by inhaling it. They have no ventral fins. (The smallest sea horse know was discovered in 2009 and is only 11mm long.)  Pipefish reproduce much like the seahorse, that is, the female deposits her eggs in a pouch on the males "chest", or attaches them directly to his body and he is the one who gives birth!   Read more about sea horses, pipefish and sea dragons ...(external link).

Shortfin Pipefish - Cosmocampus elucens
Shortfin Pipefish - Cosmocampus elucens
Shortfin Pipefish - Cosmocampus elucens
Shortfin Pipefish - Cosmocampus elucens
Shortfin Pipefish - Cosmocampus elucens

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