First record of the pipefish Syngnathus typhle (Linnaeus, 1758) (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

The present study reports the first record of the broadnosed pipefish, Syngnathus typhle (Linnaeus, 1758), in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The specimen was observed at a depth of approximately 40 cm within a Cymodocea nodosa meadow over a muddy–sandy substrate in Neum Bay. The individual exhibited pronounced cryptic behavior, showing crypsis through morphological and behavioral mimicry of seagrass leaves, maintaining an inverted posture and closely aligning with surrounding vegetation. The specimen was documented using photography and was briefly handled in situ without being removed from the water. The observed individual was a brooding male, carrying eggs within the ventral brood pouch. This finding extends the known distribution of S. typhle in the Adriatic Sea and highlights the importance of continued field surveys in the relatively understudied coastal waters of Bosnia and Herzegovina.