Short-snouted seahorse

The short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus) is a special kind of seahorse in the family Syngnathidae. It lives only in certain places, such as the Mediterranean Sea and parts of the North Atlantic. You can find them around Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the Canary Islands, with a few also living in the North Sea.

These tiny sea creatures like to stay in shallow, muddy water. They also enjoy living in places called estuaries or among seagrass beds. Their special shape and habitat make them unique among sea animals.

Protection

In the United Kingdom, short-snouted seahorses are protected by laws to keep them safe. Special areas in the sea help protect these seahorses and their homes. In 2010, a zoo in London had many baby seahorses born.

This seahorse is watched closely to make sure it doesn’t disappear. Sometimes, people catch seahorses by accident when fishing, and these may be sold as decorations. Some seahorses are collected for special exhibits in aquariums.

The seahorse is listed to protect it from being taken too much, but sometimes people don’t follow the rules. There are agreements to help protect seahorses in many places around the world.

Habitat and distribution

Short-snouted seahorses live on the bottom near rocks, seaweed, or in seagrass beds in shallow, muddy water. They are usually found in water up to 77 metres deep and don't move around much except during storms when currents can carry them away. In winter, they move to deeper water to stay safe from rough seas. They use their tails to hold onto plants and can blend in very well with their surroundings.

These seahorses are found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, from northwestern Scotland and the Netherlands south to Senegal, and throughout the Mediterranean Sea. They also live near the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands. In Britain and Ireland, warmer waters from the Gulf Stream help them live mainly on the southern and western coasts. Small groups can also be found in the North Sea because of the Gulf Stream. In 2007, people found groups of these seahorses in the River Thames near London and Southend-on-Sea. In Italy, they live along the whole coast, especially in Sicily, Sardinia, and other southern areas.

Description

The short-snouted seahorse, Hippocampus hippocampus, can grow up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long. It has a short, upturned snout and a spine above each eye. These seahorses have a dark stripe along their dorsal fin, which helps them move, and their pectoral fins help them stay steady and steer. Their bodies come in colors like black, purple, orange, or brown, and they have bony bumps on their body rings that give them a angular look. They use their tail, which can’t bend backward but is flexible, to wrap around coral or seagrass for support and during mating.

Feeding

The short-snouted seahorse eats about 30 to 50 tiny shrimp each day. These seahorses wait quietly until small animals come close, then they quickly suck them up with their snouts. They don’t have teeth or a stomach, so food moves fast through their bodies.

Reproduction

Short-snouted seahorses have a special way of having babies. The female places her eggs into a special pouch on the male's belly, and the male carries the eggs until they hatch. This process is called ovoviviparous.

When it's time to have babies, the male and female seahorses show special greetings to each other. The male fills his pouch with water, and the female places her eggs into the pouch. The eggs are kept safe and get food and oxygen from the male's body. After about three weeks, the male releases the new seahorse babies, usually at night. A male can have between 50 and 100 babies, and older males often have more.