| Opossum pipefish | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Syngnathiformes |
| Family: | Syngnathidae |
| Genus: | Microphis |
| Species: | M. lineatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Microphis lineatus (Kaup, 1856)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Microphis brachyurus lineatus | |
Microphis lineatus, the opossum pipefish, is a species of fish in the family Syngnathidae. It is found in fresh, brackish and marine waters in the West Atlantic region, ranging from New Jersey, United States, to São Paulo, Brazil, including the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.[1][2] It is often found in rivers, among water hyacinth roots, in mangrove and in Sargassum.[1]
The opossum pipefish was formerly regarded as a subspecies of Microphis brachyurus (native to Asia and Oceania), but is now recognized as a full species by both FishBase and Catalog of Fishes.[2][3] Furthermore, it is possible that full-freshwater populations currently included in the opossum pipefish represent a separate species.[1]
In the United States, the opossum pipefish is considered a species of concern by the National Marine Fisheries Service.[4] Due to uncertainty about its taxonomy and vulnerability to habitat destruction, it is considered data deficient by the IUCN.[1] It reaches up to 19.4 cm (7.6 in) in standard length.[2]
- ^ a b c d e Pollom, R. (2015). "Microphis brachyurus ssp. lineatus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T46108938A46959096. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T46108938A46959096.en.
- ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Microphis lineatus". FishBase. December 2018 version.
- ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Microphis". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- ^ U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service: Species of Concern.