Marine Fishes From Carolinas 



65 



Fig. 1. Daramattus americanus, UF 30669, 56.3 mm SL specimen collected off 

 North Carolina. 



female from Shallowbag Bay, Roanoke Island, 

 1978 (40 mm; UF 30670). 



Dare County, 17 March 



Syngnathidae 



Oostethus brachyurus (Bleeker). The opossum pipefish, O. b. line- 

 atus, is a relatively small tropical species commonly found in fresh and 

 brackish waters of Central America, but only rarely reported from 

 North America (see review in Gilmore 1977; Dawson 1979). Although 

 Dawson (1979) reported its occurrence as far north as New Jersey, this 

 species has not previously been recorded from North Carolina waters. 



Six specimens were collected on five separate occasions from the 

 BSEP traveling screens: 14 September 1976 (151 mm; UF 30605); 3 

 October 1976 (164 mm; UF 30673); 23 October 1976 (153 mm; UF 

 30674); 20 November 1978 (62 mm, 85 mm; UF 30607); and 5 December 

 1978 (89 mm; UF 30606). Collection salinities and temperatures ranged 

 from 23.5 to 29.0 0/00 and 17.0 to 24.2° C, respectively. The three larg- 

 est specimens were adult males with developed but empty brood pouches. 

 Gilmore (1977) indicated that this species spawns from July through 

 November in fresh water of the Indian River, Florida area. Dawson 



