Animal Profiles
Fish

Seahorse

Hippocampus

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Seahorses have an upright posture and a tail that grips supports. This account follows the lined seahorse, a western Atlantic fish whose males carry developing young in a brood pouch.

Lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) photographed in an aquarium.

Lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) photographed in an aquarium.

No machine-readable author provided. Stevenj assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Hippocampus erectus is the representative described here. It uses western Atlantic coastal habitats with seaweed, reef structure and other places to hold on. The older source's broad southern range is not treated as a precise modern map.
Habitat
Coral reef, Coast
Diet
Carnivore
Food
The tubular snout draws in tiny crustaceans.

Classification

Common name
Seahorse
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Hippocampus
Source classification
Actinopterygii

Three things to know

  • Its tail grips supports.
  • Bony plates cover its body.
  • Males carry developing young.

Habitat and range

Hippocampus erectus is the representative described here. It uses western Atlantic coastal habitats with seaweed, reef structure and other places to hold on. The older source's broad southern range is not treated as a precise modern map.

Appearance and adaptations

Bony plates surround the body, and the head bends at an angle to the trunk. A grasping tail anchors the fish. Small fins move rapidly, but overall swimming is slow.

Diet and behaviour

The tubular snout draws in tiny crustaceans. The female transfers eggs to the male's pouch, where development continues until he releases the young. This reproductive role is a defining seahorse feature.

Sources

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