Introducing Hippocampus Unravelling the Seahorse

Seahorses are an elusive species that turn divers giddy with excitement. But what is it about them that fascinates people so much? Quite often, throughout my work and travels, I hear divers say, "I don't like sharks – they're scary" or "Nudibranchs are boring", but can you ever recall a time when you've heard a diver say that they don't like seahorses? I mean, what is there not to like about this mythical little creature?

-  Dave Harasti

IT'S NOT A HORSE OF COURSE

Seahorses are unusual little marine creatures that belong to the fish family Syngnathidae, which includes seahorses, pipefish, seadragons and pipehorses. They occur throughout the oceans of the world (except in the coldest seas at both poles) and can be found living in a variety of habitats including seagrass meadows, coral reefs, sponge gardens, and even on artificial structures such as jetties.

THE MALES HAVE IT

One of the most fascinating things that make the seahorse so unique is their reproductive biology. In seahorses, it’s the male that becomes pregnant, carrying the young in a pouch-like opening. The female deposits her eggs into the male’s pouch, which contains sperm, and the pregnancy lasts about two weeks to one month, after which the male gives birth. The number of babies born varies from species to species, but generally a brood size is around 100 to 300 babies. But after giving birth, it’s not over yet. This poor male seahorse will generally be impregnated again by a female right after and have to go through the whole process straight away! And not just twice: a besieged male can become pregnant up to eight times during a breeding season! (For some reason, women always seem to like this fact!)