This is the raw data that corresponds to the manuscript "The development of a quantification method for measuring iridescence using sexually selected traits in the Gulf pipefish (Syngnathus scovelli)" (DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1127790). The two datasets contain the iridescence measurements for each individual band on the pipefish for each study outlined in the manuscript. iridescence_across_lighting_RAW: contains every iridescence measurements for the study about lighting conditions, to see if lighting has any affect on the amount of iridescence measured from a photo. pipefish_measures_iridescence_RAW: contatins all of the other iridescence measurements for the geographic study, for females from two Texas populations and two Florida populations, and the estrogen study, where we measured the development of iridescence on male pipefish in response to synthetic estrogen.