Pontoh's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus pontohi)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Hippocampus pontohi
- Common name
- Pontoh's pygmy seahorse
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Syngnathidae
- Genus
- Hippocampus
- Size
- 1–2 cm
- Depth
- 7–25 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, pair, cryptic
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific
Description
Hippocampus pontohi reaches 1.7 cm, one of the smallest seahorses worldwide. Remarkably small pygmy seahorse recently discovered (2008), with thin body and variable colors (white, pink, red, yellow, brown) and algae-like tubercles. Lives clinging to filamentous algae and hydroids from 7 to 25 m on coral reefs of central Indo-Pacific (Indonesia, Philippines). Differentiated from H. bargibanti (associated with Muricella). Mythical macro photo subject of pygmy seahorse dives in Bali, Lembeh, Anilao.
Photo of Pontoh's pygmy seahorse
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Pontoh's pygmy seahorse?
- Pontoh's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus pontohi) reaches 1–2 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Pontoh's pygmy seahorse?
- Pontoh's pygmy seahorse is found between 7–25 m deep.
- Is the Pontoh's pygmy seahorse dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Pontoh's pygmy seahorse?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Pontoh's pygmy seahorse?
- Found in: Asian Pacific.
Other species in the genus Hippocampus
- Hippocampus denise - Denise'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 398433)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5201122)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia