Short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Hippocampus hippocampus
- Common name
- Short-snouted seahorse
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Syngnathidae
- Genus
- Hippocampus
- Size
- 8–15 cm
- Depth
- 1–75 m
- IUCN status
- Vulnerable (VU)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- seagrass, rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, pair, cryptic
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Hippocampus hippocampus reaches 15 cm. Emblematic Mediterranean and East Atlantic seahorse with compact short body with shorter snout (hence hippocampus, unlike H. guttulatus long-snouted), highly variable color according to environment (brown, black, yellow, green, red). Lives clinging to algae, seagrass and gorgonians from 1 to 75 m in Mediterranean and East Atlantic. Listed VU by IUCN following habitat degradation and traditional collection. Iconic macro photo subject of Med dives, sought for variable colors and characteristic immobility.
Photo of Short-snouted seahorse
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Short-snouted seahorse?
- Short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus) reaches 8–15 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Short-snouted seahorse?
- Short-snouted seahorse is found between 1–75 m deep.
- Is the Short-snouted seahorse dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Short-snouted seahorse?
- IUCN status: Vulnerable (VU).
- Where can you find the Short-snouted seahorse?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Hippocampus
- Hippocampus pontohi - Pontoh's pygmy seahorse
- Hippocampus denise - Denise's pygmy seahorse
- Hippocampus severnsi - Severns' pygmy 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 127380)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5201134)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia