• Norwegian: nålefisker

Characteristics:

Pipefish have elongated bodies, encased in bony rings. Their bodies seem stiff and many of them are poor swimmers. They trust their camouflage rather than their ability to escape from dangerous situations. Standing in a vertical position they are easily mistaken for the stem of a plant.

Taxonomy:

The Norwegian marine fauna includes six members of the family Syngnathidae. A single species of the centriscidae family is represented, the longspine snipefish (Macroramphosus scolopax). The well known sea horses (Hippocampinae) are rarely found along in Norway.