SEAHORSES


INTRODUCTION

All Seahorses belong to the same species, namely "hippocampus" - (Hippo meaning horse; campus meaning monster / sea dragon). They are all members of the family Syngnathidae from the Greek syn; meaning together or fused and gnathus; meaning jaws.


HOW TO IDENTIFY A SEAHORSE

  • Instead of scales they have thin skin stretched over a series of bony plates;
  • All have horse like heads and curling tail like a monkey;
  • The male Seahorse has a breeding pouch like a kangaroo;
  • They can move their left and right eyes independantly, and change colour to blend in with their surroundings like a chameleon;
  • They have small fins like a fish.
At present there are 35 known species of seahorse. The biggest one "Australian Big Bellied Seahorse" (Hippocampus abdominalis) is 30cm long and the smallest one "Pygmy Seahorse" (Hippocampus denise) is only 16.2mm.


FAMILY MEMBERS

The Seahorses are a very diverse and colourful family.
Examples:-
  • Pipefish
  • Sea Dragons
  • Trumpet Fish

  • Flute Mouth
  • Razer Fish
    •

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