Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Hippocampus bargibanti
- Common name
- Bargibant's pygmy seahorse
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Syngnathidae
- Genus
- Hippocampus
- Size
- 1–2 cm
- Depth
- 10–40 m
- IUCN status
- Data deficient (DD)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, cryptic
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific
Description
Hippocampus bargibanti reaches 2 cm, one of the smallest seahorses in the world. Body entirely covered with tubercles in pink, red or yellow perfectly mimicking the polyps of Muricella gorgonians in which it lives exclusively. Discovered in 1969 by accident in a lab after a gorgonian fragment was brought back. Impossible to spot without a trained eye, macro lens and local guide. Indo-Pacific from 10 to 40 m, star of macro dives.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Bargibant's pygmy seahorse?
- Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) reaches 1–2 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Bargibant's pygmy seahorse?
- Bargibant's pygmy seahorse is found between 10–40 m deep.
- Is the Bargibant's pygmy seahorse dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Bargibant's pygmy seahorse?
- IUCN status: Data deficient (DD).
- Where can you find the Bargibant's pygmy seahorse?
- Found in: Asian Pacific.
Other species in the genus Hippocampus
- Hippocampus pontohi - Pontoh's pygmy seahorse
- Hippocampus denise - Denise's pygmy seahorse
- Hippocampus severnsi - Severns' pygmy seahorse
- Hippocampus hippocampus - Short-snouted seahorse
- Hippocampus ingens - Pacific seahorse
- Hippocampus reidi - Longsnout seahorse
Other species in the family Syngnathidae
- Hippocampus guttulatus - Long-snouted seahorse
- Corythoichthys flavofasciatus - Yellow-banded pipefish
- Corythoichthys intestinalis - Messmate pipefish
- Doryrhamphus excisus - Flagtail pipefish
- Halicampus macrorhynchus - Ornate pipefish
- Phycodurus eques - Leafy seadragon
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 275187)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5201130)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia