Denise's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Hippocampus denise
- Common name
- Denise's pygmy seahorse
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Syngnathidae
- Genus
- Hippocampus
- Size
- 1–2 cm
- Depth
- 13–90 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, pair, cryptic
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific
Description
Hippocampus denise reaches 2 cm. Orange-yellow to brown pygmy seahorse with very elongated tail, among the smallest seahorses worldwide. Lives exclusively associated with certain gorgonians (Annella, Echinogorgia, Muricella) on coral drop-offs from 13 to 90 m of central and western Indo-Pacific (Indonesia, Philippines, Maldives). Mimics polyps of host gorgonian. Formally discovered in 2003 (dedicated to Denise Tackett). Smaller and thinner than H. bargibanti, super-sought macro subject.
Photo of Denise's pygmy seahorse
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Denise's pygmy seahorse?
- Denise's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise) reaches 1–2 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Denise's pygmy seahorse?
- Denise's pygmy seahorse is found between 13–90 m deep.
- Is the Denise's pygmy seahorse dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Denise's pygmy seahorse?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Denise's pygmy seahorse?
- Found in: Asian Pacific.
Other species in the genus Hippocampus
- Hippocampus pontohi - Pontoh's pygmy seahorse
- Hippocampus severnsi - Severns' pygmy seahorse
- Hippocampus hippocampus - Short-snouted seahorse
- Hippocampus ingens - Pacific seahorse
- Hippocampus reidi - Longsnout seahorse
- Hippocampus bargibanti - Bargibant's pygmy 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 275193)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5201142)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia