I always want to showcase the weird and wonderful in my From the Deep segments and this one is definitely that. From sand flats to rocky reefs to kelp forests, nature has created so many unique underwater areas for marine life to thrive but one of the densely populated are the world's eelgrass beds. Eelgrass beds act as underwater nurseries and sanctuaries for hundreds of different species, one in particular is the Bay Pipefish (Syngnathus leptorhyncus).
At first glance, you might never notice a bay pipefish gliding through the eelgrass—its long, pencil-slim body and greenish color mimic the swaying blades. Native to the Eastern Pacific this pipefish is closely related to tropical seahorses and some species of pipefish can be found in tropical waters.
The Bay Pipefish will often float or anchor themselves to strands of eelgrass while in a vertical position, rendering it almost invisible to predators and photographers. The protection and gentle currents of the eelgrass beds is a necessity for the pipefish, as they are poor swimmers who would quickly perish in open or coastal waters. Like their seahorse relatives, male pipefish carry the young in a special pouch until they emerge and swim away.
Keep your eyes peeled if your on the hunt for these cool little fish, they can be very tough to spot.
Thanks for reading.
Scott
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