Species: Pseudophallus mindii, Freshwater Pipefish

Pseudophallus mindii (Meek & Hildebrand, 1923)

Freshwater Pipefish

Snout short, with a low ridge along the top; dorsal fin 28-44 rays; anal fin absent; pectoral fin 13-16 rays; no pelvic fins; tail 10 rays; upper body and tail ridges discontinuous; ridge on side of trunk joins side ridge then top ridge of tail; lower ridges of trunk and tail joined; edges of body ridges without indentations, denticles or skin flaps; trunk rings 13-15, total rings 41-53; brood pouch under tail rings 11-22, with large, infolded plates; female with a long, spiny anal papilla.

Light brown, greenish below; snout usually with a dark stripe along side; often a dark blotch behind eye; body variable, from plain to heavily blotched and mottled; diffuse pale stripes along body ridges; dorsal and pectoral fins yellowish; tail fin black, with a yellow edge.

Reaches 16 cm.

Mainly in freshwater, but also occurs in estuaries; juveniles have been collected at sea; its occurrence at offshore Caribbean islands attests to its marine dispersal capacity.

Depth range: 0-2 m.

Belize to Brazil.