chain pattern: green-brown + white edges of plates
operculum: no ridges
A 2-4
large C
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Syngnathus carinatus (Gilbert, 1892)
Cortez pipefish
Snout slender, long, 56-63% of head ; head length 7.1-8.6 in SL; ridge along top of snout and head low, no spines along side of snout; adult with no ridge along upper operculum; along side of body ends at level near anus or joins upper or lower tail ridge; upper ridge of body discontinuous with that of tail just behind dorsal fin; ridges along bottom of body and tail joined; body ridges not elevated, finely toothed; body and tail rings 16-18+ 39-43; no skin flaps; anal fin 2-4; dorsal fin 40-46, fin low, its origin on trunk; pectoral fin 13-15; tail fin large, 10; brood pouch under tail, its plates folded inwards .
Green to brown, with white lines surrounding plates form a chainlink pattern; operculum and pectoral base silvery.