Syngnathus typhle

Females are usually the larger sex and display a temporary B-shaped black stripe, during the breeding season. They display the ornament multiple times during short periods, in the presence of a male (to attract) or female (to compete). Dominant females display the ornament more often, tend to engage more in courting behaviours, and mate with more males.

The breeding season occurs between February to October, varying with latitude and temperature. During this time, females swim above and down the vegetation, alone or in groups (lek-like structure), attracting males. Males search for females by swimming horizontally above the seagrass. When a male finds a lek, he usually mates with the dominant females, aligning vertically with her. If the two are receptive to intercourse, they shake their body and proceed to the egg transference. Then the male swims towards to bottom, twitching the body to rearrange the deposited eggs and immobilizes himself in an S shape to fertilize them. The male broods the embryos on a tail-brooding pouch, and the juveniles emerge fully developed. Both sexes mate with several partners, preferring mostly larger,  higher quality partners. 

This species is listed as “Least Concerned” by the IUCN Red List, based on the absence of major threats causing population decline. However, their habitat is being destroyed, which will certainly affect their survival soon. Furthermore, climate change is another serious threat. However, no further studies were conducted to understand the impacts of temperature rising on this species, as already performed on other members of the family. Since the impacts on other members showed to be negative in the short and long term, it will probably have the same effect on S. typhle.