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Family: Syngnathidae
Species: Hippocampus erectus (Perry, 1810)
Range: from Nova Scotia to Uruguay (including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea).
Habitat: inhabits channels and flats during summer months; clings to vegetation and other holdfasts such as sponges, pilings or ropes.
Food: known as a voracious ambush predator and master of camouflage (it can change color in seconds to match it's surroundings); sucks prey such as small crustaceans through it's long tubular snout.
Characters useful in identification: head shaped like horse's head and situated at nearly a right angle to it's body; prehensile tail; dorsal fin with 16-20 rays; anal fin with 3 or 4 rays; pale yellow to nearly black in color; lines and spots present laterally.
Maximum size: 17 cm (6.7 in.) TL.
Reproduction: very interesting reproductive behavior where, after an elaborate courtship, the female deposits eggs (200-300) into the male's abdominal pouch where they are fertilized. The male nourishes and protects the developing embyos until they are developed, then releases the young all at once.
Other Interesting tidbits:
- seahorses are commonly found in aquaria throughout the world.
References:
Murdy, E.O., R.S. Birdsong, and J.A. Musick. 1997. Fishes of Chesapeake Bay.Smithsonian Institution Press, 324 pp.
For any comments or suggestions, contact the Fisheries
Webmaster (cfb@vims.edu)
Date last modified: 07/14/99