Pipefish

This fish is called the Pipefish. The male pipefish carries the eggs to be hatched in a brood pouch in front of its belly. Male caregivers are not uncommon in nature. In some frogs, the tadpoles develop on the back of the father. In some birds, such as penguins, the male and female take care of the eggs.

Pipefish are small and slender -- 10 to 20 centimeters long -- with spikes all over their body. They are often hard to find because their greenish color helps camouflage them in the seaweed. The pipefish and the seahorse are in the same family. They have armor and eat by sucking water rapidly and capturing small creatures such as crustaceans.

Picture provided by Marine Biological Laboratory

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