Seahorses

Did you know?

Seahorses are like the mythical creatures of the sea, with over 46 species in the Hippocampus family—literally meaning "horse sea monster" in ancient Greek! With their horse-like heads, upright swimming posture, and prehensile tails, these tiny creatures can be as small as 1.5 cm or as long as 35 cm. They’re equipped with bony armor instead of scales, which makes them tough, but it also means they don’t swim very well. In fact, the dwarf seahorse is the slowest fish in the ocean, topping out at just 5 feet per hour!

You’ll find seahorses hanging out in tropical and temperate waters across the globe, usually in sheltered spots like seagrass beds, coral reefs, and mangroves. Some species, like the long-snouted and short-snouted seahorses, even make their homes in the Mediterranean, and you might spot them near London in the Thames Estuary!

One of the most fascinating things about seahorses? Their unique approach to reproduction! Unlike most fish, it's the male seahorse that gets "pregnant." Females deposit their eggs into the male's brood pouch, where he carries them for up to 45 days. When they’re ready, he gives birth to tiny, fully-formed baby seahorses—sometimes hundreds at a time. And they can be romantic too! Before mating, they’ll go through a lengthy courtship, involving color changes and synchronized swimming.

Seahorses are master camouflagers, blending seamlessly with their surroundings to catch tiny prey like shrimp, thanks to their special head shape that creates minimal disturbance in the water. They eat constantly because, without a stomach, they can’t store food.

Sadly, these quirky creatures face threats from habitat loss and overfishing. They’re often caught for use in traditional medicine or sold as souvenirs. While some are bred in captivity, wild populations are still at risk.

So, next time you spot a seahorse, remember you’re looking at one of nature’s most unique, fascinating survivors of the sea!