Severns' pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus severnsi)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Hippocampus severnsi
- Common name
- Severns' pygmy seahorse
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Syngnathidae
- Genus
- Hippocampus
- Size
- 1–2 cm
- Depth
- 5–22 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, pair, cryptic
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific
Description
Hippocampus severnsi reaches 1.5 cm. Very small pygmy seahorse described in 2008 (alongside H. pontohi), very similar to H. pontohi but with more yellow-white body and orange or brown saddles along back. Lives clinging to algae and hydroids from 5 to 22 m on coral reefs of central Indo-Pacific. Macro photo subject for pygmy seahorse purists. Still recent species in taxonomic nomenclature.
Photo of Severns' pygmy seahorse
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Severns' pygmy seahorse?
- Severns' pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus severnsi) reaches 1–2 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Severns' pygmy seahorse?
- Severns' pygmy seahorse is found between 5–22 m deep.
- Is the Severns' pygmy seahorse dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Severns' pygmy seahorse?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Severns' 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 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 398435)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5201085)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia