Opossum pipefish (Microphis lineatus)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, description from Wikipedia.
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. It is often found in rivers, among water hyacinth roots, in mangrove and in Sargassum.
- Scientific name
- Microphis lineatus
- Authority
- (Kaup, 1856)
- Family
- Syngnathidae
- Order
- Syngnathiformes
- Maximum length
- 19.399999618530273 cm
- Habitat zone
- pelagic-neritic
- Gbif occurrence records
- 443
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Syngnathiformes · Family: Syngnathidae · Genus: Microphis.
Accepted name: Microphis lineatus · Authority: (Kaup, 1856) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 400978.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Doryichthys lineatus Kaup, 1856; Doryrhamphus sierra Nichols, 1915; Microphis brachyurus lineatus (Kaup, 1856); Oostethus brachyurus lineatus (Kaup, 1856); Oostethus lineatus (Kaup, 1856); Siphostoma brevicaudum Meek, 1904; Siphostoma eigenmanni Wilson, 1916; Siphostoma torrei Nichols, 1912; Syngnathus cayennensis Sauvage, 1882; Syngnathus torrei (Nichols, 1912).
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=400978 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Microphis lineatus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 19.399999618530273 cm · Habitat zone: pelagic-neritic · Body shape: eel-like · Vulnerability index: 13.7 of 100 · Fishery importance: of no interest · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
FishBase notes: Found among floating Sargassum . Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 26235) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Microphis-lineatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
443 georeferenced occurrence records for Microphis lineatus are published through GBIF from 22 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 29 distinct locations from a sample of 443 records, omitting 97 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: Brazil (175); Mexico (105); Costa Rica (45); United States of America (28); Panama (18); Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (10); Honduras (9); French Guiana (7); Trinidad and Tobago (7); Guatemala (6); Puerto Rico (6); Guyana (5); Martinique (4); Belize (3); Colombia (3).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5712327) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5712327&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=400978 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
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. Furthermore, it is possible that full-freshwater populations currently included in the opossum pipefish represent a separate species.
In the United States, the opossum pipefish is considered a species of concern by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Due to uncertainty about its taxonomy and vulnerability to habitat destruction, it is considered data deficient by the IUCN. It reaches up to 19.4 cm in standard length.
Opossum pipefish are a widespread species that spawn in low salinity areas of estuaries.
The color of the opossum pipefish is distinctive, especially in breeding adults: the upper snout and back half of the head and body is sienna brown with a series of dark red blotches on each lateral trunk ring forming a red stripe between the lateral and superior trunk ridges; there is a silver stripe on the mid-side between the lateral and inferior trunk ridges, a silver edge on the inferior trunk ridge; the lower half of the snout is bright red with a variable number of black vertical bars, and the caudal fin is also red with a central dark stripe.
Nothing is known about annual variation in population size, but the decline in habitat quality (described below) has likely led to a drastic decrease in population size.
The major threats to the opossum pipefish are habitat destruction, water control structures, declining water quality, and an increase in disease. These factors have been documented within the primary ecosystems occupied by opossum pipefish.
IUCN: Data deficient.
U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service: Species of Concern
Species of Greatest Conservation Need:FL, LA, and TX.
Source: Wikipedia: Microphis lineatus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphis_lineatus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced