Seahorses | National Geographic (2024)

FAQs

What is the geography of seahorses? ›

Seahorses are mainly found in shallow tropical and temperate salt water throughout the world, from about 45°S to 45°N. They live in sheltered areas such as seagrass beds, estuaries, coral reefs, and mangroves. Four species are found in Pacific waters from North America to South America.

All seahorses are marine species. They are typically found in seagrass beds, mangrove roots, and coral reefs, in shallow temperate and tropical waters. Some species can also be found in estuaries, as they are able to tolerate wide ranges in salinity.

Eastern Atlantic – from the UK to Angola, and throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Indian Ocean – from South Africa to Australia, throughout the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Western Pacific – from South Korea to New Zealand and Tasmania in Australia, and some Pacific islands.

There is only one species of domestic horse, but around 400 different breeds that specialize in everything from pulling wagons to racing. All horses are grazers. While most horses are domestic, others remain wild. Feral horses are the descendents of once-tame animals that have run free for generations.

These seahorses can be found in the western Atlantic Ocean, from Nova Scotia to Uruguay. Seahorses primarily eat larval shrimp, amphipods, copepods, worms and small snails. Lined seahorses typically range from 2 to 4 inches, with a maximum size of 6 inches.

You probably looked at my title and thought, that's not a tropical animal, when really it is. Seahorses live in coral reefs which are the rainforest of the ocean world. Presently seahorses rely greatly on the coral reefs they live by for survival, but in the future due to climate change they could lose that habitat.

Sea horse reproduce sexually by internal fertilisation. After fertilisation female spray or transfer her eggs in the males brood pocket via oviduct and then male keep them in pocket until they hatch and are capable of fairly active swimming.

In the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, two seahorse species are listed as Endangered, 12 as Vulnerable, with one as Near Threatened, 10 as Least Concern.

There are currently five recognized species of seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) in the Americas, one in the Pacific Ocean and four in the Atlantic. All of these American seahorses tend to live in relatively shallow coastal areas with 3D-structured habitat, including seagrasses, corals, and mangroves.

A baby seahorse is called a “fry.” When the time is right for the babies to be born, the males will bend their bodies back and forth until a tiny seahorse pops out of the pouch.

Are seahorses only female? ›

The most distinguishing difference between male and female seahorses is the male broodpouch located beneath his abdomen along the front side of his tail. The male's broodpouch is where the male seahorse fertilizes eggs and carries seahorse fry. You heard it right, male seahorses actually get pregnant and gives birth!

Seahorse habitats are at risk

The situation is so bad that some species, including White's seahorse (Hippocampus whitei) and the Knysna or Cape seahorse (Hippocampus capensis), are now considered endangered. This means that some of these these unique fish are now at very high risk of extinction.

A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old.

Przewalski's horses, critically endangered horses found in Mongolia, are the last truly wild horse. Once thought to be the ancestor to the domestic horse, they are actually distant cousins. Mitochondrial DNA suggests that they diverged from a common ancestor 500,000 years ago.

Some spread as desert-shaped onageers and asses across Asia, the Mideast, and North Africa. Others entered Africa and diversified into modern zebras. Other Equus species spread into South America while the true horse, Equus caballus, spread across Asia, the Mideast, and Europe.

Seahorses are fish and have many of the characteristics of their swimming counterparts, according to The Seahorse Trust. They live in the water and breathe through gills. They also have a swim bladder, which is an air-filled balloon-like organ that gives them buoyancy and helps them float.

The lined seahorse occurs at depths from 2-230 feet (. 5-70 m) and is often observed clinging to aquatic vegetation including mangroves, seagrasses, sponges, corals, and floating sargassum. Those that reside with sargassum often have protuberances and fleshy tabs that aid in camouflage.

Seahorses have unique adaptations that help them survive in the ocean, including the ability to use camouflage, or blend in with their surroundings, and change the color of their body. Long snouts help them find food, and excellent vision and eyes that can move independently are great for avoiding predators.