Syngnathidae (Seahorses)
The Syngnathidae family consist of the pipefishes, seahorses, pipehorses and seadragons. In general, the species in genus Hippocampus are called seahorses. They are found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific temperate and tropical waters, typically in shallow waters with abundant vegetation. They can also be found in colder waters like those found off New Zealand, Southern Australia, Argentina, Canada, and the United Kingdom. They are very small in size, the largest seahorse species, Hippocampus abdominalis (Big-bellied Seahorse) can only reach to 35 cm long.
Seahorses look different from most fish, with hard, bony exteriors and long snouts. They breathe through gills and have a swim bladder. They do not have caudal fins. They move by using their pectoral fins on the sides and a small dorsal fin on the back of their body. They swim very slowly. Hippocampus zosterae (The Dwarf Seahorse) is the slowest-moving fish in the world, with a top speed of about 1.5 m (5 ft) per hour. They sometimes attach themselves to floating seaweed and debris to travel longer distance.
Seahorses feed on plankton, small crustacean and fish larvae using their excellent eyesight and expandable snout that can suck like a vacuum cleaner. Their eyes are able to work independently on either side of their head. They are different from almost all other animals because male seahorses give birth to babies, after carrying eggs in a pouch at the base of their tail or in their belly. The female transfers her eggs to the male which he self-fertilizes in his pouch.
Seahorses can change colour to blend into their environment. This helps to protect them from predators and ambush their prey. It is often difficult to identify seahorses because individuals of the same species can vary greatly in appearance.
There are altogether 57 genera and about 300 species of Syngnathidae worldwide. The genus Hippocampus has about 57 species.
Seahorses look different from most fish, with hard, bony exteriors and long snouts. They breathe through gills and have a swim bladder. They do not have caudal fins. They move by using their pectoral fins on the sides and a small dorsal fin on the back of their body. They swim very slowly. Hippocampus zosterae (The Dwarf Seahorse) is the slowest-moving fish in the world, with a top speed of about 1.5 m (5 ft) per hour. They sometimes attach themselves to floating seaweed and debris to travel longer distance.
Seahorses feed on plankton, small crustacean and fish larvae using their excellent eyesight and expandable snout that can suck like a vacuum cleaner. Their eyes are able to work independently on either side of their head. They are different from almost all other animals because male seahorses give birth to babies, after carrying eggs in a pouch at the base of their tail or in their belly. The female transfers her eggs to the male which he self-fertilizes in his pouch.
Seahorses can change colour to blend into their environment. This helps to protect them from predators and ambush their prey. It is often difficult to identify seahorses because individuals of the same species can vary greatly in appearance.
There are altogether 57 genera and about 300 species of Syngnathidae worldwide. The genus Hippocampus has about 57 species.
Scientific Name: Hippocampus abdominalis Lesson, 1827
English Name: Big-belly Seahorse, Eastern Potbelly Seahorse, Big-bellied Seahorse
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 膨腹海马 (Péng fù hǎimǎ)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Kuda Laut
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ม้าน้ำ (M̂ān̂ả)
Main Identification Features: Low triangular coronet. Low, rounded bumps above the eyes. Fleshy filaments off the head. Adult males have a very prominent abdomen, whereas females have a compressed abdomen with a keel down the middle. Head and body with irregular darker spots and blotches, and a broadly long banded tail.
Size: Maximum total length 35 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Estuarine and coastal marine waters, to 104 m depth, typically below 50 m depth. Usually found in groups. More active at dusk and at night than during the day. Feeds on small crustaceans, in particular amphipods, caridean shrimp, and peracarids. Ovoviviparous, males incubate eggs in an abdominal pouch and eventually release live young.
Scientific Name: Hippocampus denise Lourie & Randall, 2003
English Name: Denise's Pygmy Seahorse
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 丹尼斯豆丁海马 (Dānnísī dòudīng hǎimǎ)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Kuda Laut
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ม้าน้ำ (M̂ān̂ả)
Main Identification Features: Colour in life plain orange with slightly darker rings around tail. Snout short. Neck long. Nuchal plate rounded without a raised coronet. No spines above the eye. No cheek spine. Body ridges sometimes developed into rounded tubercles. Tail long and prehensile. Tail rings 28–29.
Size: Maximum standard length 2.2 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal coral reefs, associated with gorgonian seafans, typically at 13 to 90 m depth. Camouflage to match the stems and polyps of their gorgonian hosts. Ovoviviparous, males carry the eggs in a brood pouch on their trunk, and they give birth to 6 to 16 live young.
Scientific Name: Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier, 1829
English Name: Long-snouted Seahorse, Spiny Seahorse
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 多枝海马 (Duō zhī hǎimǎ)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Kuda Laut
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ม้าน้ำแคระ (M̂ān̂ả khæra)
Main Identification Features: Coronet small but distinct, with 5 rounded knobs or blunt points. Medium to well-developed spines with blunt tips. Mane of thick filaments.
Size: Maximum standard length 21.5 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Species of European waters. Shallow inshore waters, seaweeds and algal stands, to 12 m depth.
Scientific Name: Hippocampus angustus Günther, 1870
English Name: Thorny Seahorse, Western Spiny Seahorse, Narrow-bellied Seahorse
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 棘海马 (Jí hǎimǎ)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Kuda Laut, Korek Telinga
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ม้าน้ำแคระ (M̂ān̂ả khæra)
Main Identification Features: Long snout, with fine stripes. Coronet height medium, with 5 well-developed sharp spines. Double sharp cheek spines. Double spine below eye. Prominent sharp eye spine. Spines have a brown band towards their tip.
Size: Maximum total length 22 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Only found in Australia. Reef associated, to 63 m depth.
English Name: Big-belly Seahorse, Eastern Potbelly Seahorse, Big-bellied Seahorse
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 膨腹海马 (Péng fù hǎimǎ)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Kuda Laut
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ม้าน้ำ (M̂ān̂ả)
Main Identification Features: Low triangular coronet. Low, rounded bumps above the eyes. Fleshy filaments off the head. Adult males have a very prominent abdomen, whereas females have a compressed abdomen with a keel down the middle. Head and body with irregular darker spots and blotches, and a broadly long banded tail.
Size: Maximum total length 35 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Estuarine and coastal marine waters, to 104 m depth, typically below 50 m depth. Usually found in groups. More active at dusk and at night than during the day. Feeds on small crustaceans, in particular amphipods, caridean shrimp, and peracarids. Ovoviviparous, males incubate eggs in an abdominal pouch and eventually release live young.
Scientific Name: Hippocampus denise Lourie & Randall, 2003
English Name: Denise's Pygmy Seahorse
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 丹尼斯豆丁海马 (Dānnísī dòudīng hǎimǎ)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Kuda Laut
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ม้าน้ำ (M̂ān̂ả)
Main Identification Features: Colour in life plain orange with slightly darker rings around tail. Snout short. Neck long. Nuchal plate rounded without a raised coronet. No spines above the eye. No cheek spine. Body ridges sometimes developed into rounded tubercles. Tail long and prehensile. Tail rings 28–29.
Size: Maximum standard length 2.2 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal coral reefs, associated with gorgonian seafans, typically at 13 to 90 m depth. Camouflage to match the stems and polyps of their gorgonian hosts. Ovoviviparous, males carry the eggs in a brood pouch on their trunk, and they give birth to 6 to 16 live young.
Scientific Name: Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier, 1829
English Name: Long-snouted Seahorse, Spiny Seahorse
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 多枝海马 (Duō zhī hǎimǎ)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Kuda Laut
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ม้าน้ำแคระ (M̂ān̂ả khæra)
Main Identification Features: Coronet small but distinct, with 5 rounded knobs or blunt points. Medium to well-developed spines with blunt tips. Mane of thick filaments.
Size: Maximum standard length 21.5 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Species of European waters. Shallow inshore waters, seaweeds and algal stands, to 12 m depth.
Scientific Name: Hippocampus angustus Günther, 1870
English Name: Thorny Seahorse, Western Spiny Seahorse, Narrow-bellied Seahorse
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 棘海马 (Jí hǎimǎ)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Kuda Laut, Korek Telinga
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ม้าน้ำแคระ (M̂ān̂ả khæra)
Main Identification Features: Long snout, with fine stripes. Coronet height medium, with 5 well-developed sharp spines. Double sharp cheek spines. Double spine below eye. Prominent sharp eye spine. Spines have a brown band towards their tip.
Size: Maximum total length 22 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Only found in Australia. Reef associated, to 63 m depth.
