SYNGNATHIDAE 



{Pipe-fish) 



The curious pipe-fish that Roghi mentions is the Sygnathus 

 fasciatus, a close relative of the Hippocampus brevirostris, better 

 known as the sea-horse. The distinguishing features of the 

 family are: a small mouth at the end of a tubular face, 

 reduced branchial apparatus, absence of spinous rays in the 

 fins, and above all, a body and tail enclosed in an external 

 skeleton of annular sections. 



At first sight this little fish seems insensitive and lazy in his 

 movements, and the underwater swimmer instinctively tries 

 to catch him by just grabbing. But at the last moment, when 

 the swimmer's fingers are about to close over the victim, he 

 makes a graceful sidestep and leaves the hunter guessing. It 

 is useless to try again. The pipe-fish does not run off, but he 

 knows how to repeat his dodge. 



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