Fabulously Beautiful Seahorses Dance in the Ocean

Published by Louie Jerome
May 18, 2008, Category: Marine Biology

Seahorses are fabulous, almost fairytale creatures that dance in our oceans, but sadly, they are the victims of pollution.

There are more than 32 species of seahorse. These amazingly beautiful creatures are fish of the same family as pipe fish and leafy sea dragons, (genus: hippocampus, family: syngnathidae). They are mostly found in warm tropical and sub tropical waters, but colonies have been found in European waters, including the Thames Estuary in England.

Tiger Snout Seahorse

These fish are very territorial and the males stay within one square metre of their habitat while female range for around a hundred times that area. Seahorses change colour according to environment and ‘mood’.

Yellow Seahorse

Seahorses and pipefish are the only species where the male becomes pregnant. Pregnancies last from 10 to 25 days depending on species and the male gives birth to around 2000 babies at a time. He expels the eggs from his pouch at night and by morning when his mate returns he is ready to take another batch of eggs into his pouch.

Spiny Seahorse

Seahorses Dancing

Pygmy Seahorses Hide On The Reef

Mating Dance

Like much of our sealife, some species of seahorse are rapidly becoming extinct. The Seahorse Trust is an organisation that encourages research into seahorses and their welfare and provides education about their conservation. There is a lot more information, statistics and photographs available
here.

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Tags: fish, pipefish, pollution, pouch, reef, seahorse, swim. coral reef, tropic