All you need to know about seahorses.

There are 43 recognized species of seahorses, twelve of those are listed on the Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. They are found in coastal regions all over the world and can be anything between 2 cm (the pigmy seahorse) to 35 cm (the big-bellied seahorse) in length.

Seahorses, being able to change colour, are masters of disguise. You can often find them hiding amongst sea grass, in stag horn coral, in cracks in walls or under small overhangs. They even hide on gorgonian coral or in amongst sea urchins or sea feathers. They generally stay in places where there is little to no water movement as their bodies aren’t designed to move effortlessly and efficiently through water.

During their mating ritual a male and female seahorse become completely in sync with each other by mirroring each other’s movements. Once aligned the male will receive the eggs from the female and either keep them in his pouch or a spongy area on his tail. That’s right, the males carry the babies! There can be up to 1500 eggs produced at a time, with smaller species producing more eggs. The young are born live and have to fend for themselves. Often a very small percentage (about 1%) mature to have young of their own. Gestation ranges between 2-9 weeks and is often accelerated by warmer water conditions.

Seahorses have neither teeth, nor a digestive system which means they have to feed frequently, and when they do feed they swallow their food whole. They usually feast on small guppies, small brine shrimp, crustaceans and plankton.

Here is a list of the more common seahorses you might find while diving:

1. The Common Seahorse – Hippocampus kuda

Description:

With a head that looks like a horse, bumpy tummy and spiral tail, the Common Seahorse is probably the one that immediately comes to mind when you think about a seahorse. They come in a variety of colours and one of the smallest species of seahorses. The males are usually a bit more ‘gray’ with dark spots while the females often have some yellow and dark spots on their bodies.

The males are larger than the females. Each Common Seahorse has a crown on its head. Each crown is as unique and individual as a human finger print.

Their bodies are quite smooth compared to other species of seahorses.

Habitat and distribution

The Common Seahorse is found along coral reef areas. There are found all over Australia and Indonesia in warm tropical sea water. They generally live in water that is between 72-77 degrees Fahrenheit (22-25 °C).

Some more interesting facts

• Although Common Seahorses are usually timid, they can get aggressive when they are experiencing high stress levels.
• They are very intelligent, and even able to remember behaviour patterns.

• Pygmy Seahorse –Genus Hippocampus

Description

Pigmy Seahorses are about ¾ inches (2 cm) long. They are yellow or orange and sometimes grey, changing colour to blend in with their surroundings. They have a narrower snout than other seahorses and a prehensile tail to hold on to their natural habitat.

Habitat and distribution

Pygmy Seahorses are found in the Western Pacific from Southern Japan to Northern Australia and even Caledonia. They live in shallow areas and very warm water.

Some more interesting facts

• Pygmy Seahorses are one of the most recently discovered species because they are so small. They were discovered when a piece of coral that they were living on was placed in captivity and closely examined.
• Pygmy Seahorses live in larger groups than other seahorse species. They can be found in groups as large as 20 adults.

• Leafy Sea Dragon – Phycodurus eques

Description

Leafy Sea Dragons look like they have leaves attached to their bodies. This helps them to blend in with their environment. They have both pectoral and dorsal fins and no prehensile tail. The males are about 8 inches (20 cm) long while the females are between 6-7 inches (15-17 cm) long.

Habitat and distribution

They are found in the ocean around Australia. They live in very warm water (at least 74 degrees Fahrenheit / 23 °C) close to shore. They can be found in Jurien Bay and Kangaroo Island.

Some more interesting facts

• They are seen as a source of good luck in Australia
• They have a strong sense of direction and can move long distances to find food, returning back to their habitat to rest.
• They move extremely slow, about 1/8 of a mile (200 m) per hour.

• Weedy Sea Dragon –Phyllopteryx taeniolatus

Description

They are between 12 and 15 inches (30-38 cm) long. They are camouflaged to blend into their surroundings and look like weeds or sea grass. They are usually green or tan and have many ridges and details on their bodies and have no prehensile tail.

Habitat and distribution

Weedy Sea Dragons are found on the Southern and Western coastlines of Australia and some areas in Tasmania.

Some more interesting facts

• They are protected in Australia as they are nearly endangered.

• Big-Belly Seahorse – Hippocampus abdominalis

Description

They are an average of about 12 inches (30 cm) long. Their snouts tip forward more than other seahorse species and a coiled, prehensile tail. Their most distinctive feature is their wide, round tummies. The abdomens of the females are smaller with a keel down the middle where the males’ abdomens are larger and smoother. The males also have longer tails and wider snouts than the females.

Habitat and distribution

Big Belly Seahorses are found in the coastal areas around New Zealand and Australia. They live in water temperatures between 70 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21-26 °C) or warmer.

Some more interesting facts

• Also sometimes known as the Pot Belly Seahorse
• Big Belly Seahorses change colours multiple times during their courtship rituals.

• Pacific Seahorse – Hippocampus ingens

Description

Pacific Seahorses are about 12 inches (30 cm) long, depending on the environment, with the males being slightly larger than the females. Their colours change to blend into their surroundings, ranging from gold to maroon, brown, white or a combination of colours. There is often a dark coloured line down the females’ bodies.

Habitat and distribution

They are found in the coastal areas of Columbia, Costa Rico, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru and the United States. The live in areas where water depths get up to 100 – 600 feet (30-200m). They are often found floating around and blending into areas with brown algae.

Some more interesting facts

• During the gestation period the males’ bodies grow much larger than their average size in order to keep safe from predators.

Seahorses are fascinating creatures and very popular pets. Unfortunately this leads to mass harvesting of these amazing creatures, leading to them becoming endangered. Instead of keeping one in your aquarium, visit them on your next dive trip and enjoy them in their natural habitat.

• A version of this article first appeared on www.scubadiverlife.com