iHippocampus
Seahorse, Hippocampus sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Osteichthyes Order: Syngnathiformes Family: Syngnathidae Genus: Hippocampus Cuvier (1816)[1]
Species
See text for species. A hippocampus photo by NOAA File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Phyla Subkingdom Parazoa Porifera (sponges) Subkingdom Agnotozoa Placozoa Orthonectida Rhombozoa Subkingdom Metazoa Radiata Cnidaria Ctenophora - Comb jellies Bilateria Protostomia Acoelomorpha Platyhelminthes - Flatworms Nemertina - Ribbon worms Gastrotricha Gnathostomulida - Jawed worms Micrognathozoa Rotifera - Rotifers Acanthocephala Priapulida Kinorhyncha Loricifera Entoprocta Nematoda - Roundworms Nematomorpha - Horsehair worms Cycliophora Mollusca - Mollusks Sipuncula - Peanut worms Annelida - Segmented... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Class Actinopterygii Sarcopterygii Osteichthyes are a taxonomic superclass of fish, also called bony fish that includes the ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii) and lobe finned fish (Sarcopterygii). ... Families Aulostomidae Centriscidae Fistulariidae Solenostomidae Syngnathidae Syngnathiformes is an order of ray-finned fishes that includes the pipefishes and seahorses. ... Syngnathidae is a family of fishes, including seahorses, pipehorse, pipefish and sea dragons, among others. ...

Seahorses are marine fish belonging to the genus Hippocampus of the family Syngnathidae, which also includes pipefish. They are found in temperate and tropical waters all over the world. A giant grouper at the Georgia Aquarium Fish are aquatic vertebrates that are typically cold blooded, covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins. ... Syngnathidae is a family of fishes, including seahorses, pipehorse, pipefish and sea dragons, among others. ... Genera Pipefish (Syngnathidae) are small fish, which with the Seahorses form a distinct family. ... The tropics are the geographic region of the Earth centered on the equator and limited in latitude by the two tropics: the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. ...

Seahorses range in size from 16 mm (the recently discovered Hippocampus denise^[2]) to 35 cm. Seahorses and pipefishes are notable for being the only species in which males become "pregnant".^[3] In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biodiversity. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ...

The seahorse is a true fish, with a dorsal fin located on the lower body and pectoral fins located on the head near their gills. Some species of seahorse are partly transparent and are rarely seen in pictures.

Seahorse populations have been endangered in recent years by overfishing. The seahorse is used in traditional Chinese herbology, and as many as 20 million seahorses may be caught each year and sold for this purpose.^[4] The critically endangered Amur Tiger, a rare subspecies of tiger. ... Herbology is the art of combining medicinal herbs. ...

Import and export of seahorses has been controlled under CITES since May 15, 2004. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between Governments, drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). ... May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Sea dragons are close relatives of seahorses but have bigger bodies and leaf-like appendages which enable them to hide among floating seaweed or kelp beds. Sea dragons feed on larval fishes and amphipods, such as small shrimp-like crustaceans called mysids ("sea lice"), sucking up their prey with their small mouths. Many of these amphipods feed on red algae that thrives in the shade of the kelp forests where the sea dragons live. Binomial name Phycodurus eques (Günther, 1865) The leafy sea dragon, Phycodurus eques, is a marine fish related to the seahorse. ... Seaweed-covered rocks in the UK For the rock musician, see; Seaweed (musician) Seaweeds are any of a large number of marine benthic algae. ... Families Alariaceae Chordaceae Laminariaceae Lessoniaceae Phyllariaceae Pseudochordaceae Kelp are large seaweeds, belonging to the brown algae and classified in the order Laminariales. ... Families about 200 partial list Alpheidae Ampeliscidae Amphilochidae Ampithoidae Anisogammaridae Aoridae Artesiidae Bogideillidae Bosminidae Caprellidae Corophiidae Crangonyctidae Eusiridae Gammaridae Hadziidae Haustoriidae Iphimediidae Ischyroceridae Leucothoidae Liljeborgiidae Lysianassidae Melitidae Phoxocephalidae Sebidae Talitridae Amphipoda (amphipods) include about 4600 different species of small, shrimp_like crustaceans. ... Any of various small, shrimplike, chiefly marine crustaceans of the order Mysidacea, the females of which carry their eggs in a pouch beneath the thorax. ... Families about 200 partial list Alpheidae Ampeliscidae Amphilochidae Ampithoidae Anisogammaridae Aoridae Artesiidae Bogideillidae Bosminidae Caprellidae Corophiidae Crangonyctidae Eusiridae Gammaridae Hadziidae Haustoriidae Iphimediidae Ischyroceridae Leucothoidae Liljeborgiidae Lysianassidae Melitidae Phoxocephalidae Sebidae Talitridae Amphipoda (amphipods) include about 4600 different species of small, shrimp_like crustaceans. ... Possible classes Florideophyceae Bangiophyceae Cyanidiophyceae The red algae (Rhodophyta, pronounced /ˈrəʊdə(ʊ)ˌfʌɪtə/, ancient greek: rhodos phytos = red plant) are a large group of mostly multicellular, marine algae, including many notable seaweeds. ... Families Alariaceae Chordaceae Laminariaceae Lessoniaceae Phyllariaceae Pseudochordaceae Kelp are large seaweeds, belonging to the brown algae and classified in the order Laminariales. ...

Reproduction

Seahorses reproduce in an unusual way: the male becomes pregnant. Most seahorse species' pregnancies lasts approximately two to three weeks. This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ...

Hatched offspring are independent of their parents. Some spend time developing among the ocean plankton. At times, the male seahorse may try to consume some of the previously released offspring. Other species (H. zosterae) immediately begin life as sea-floor inhabitants (benthos). This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... In oceanography, marine geology and biology, benthos are the organisms and habitats of the sea floor; in freshwater biology they are the organisms and habitats of the bottoms of lakes, rivers, and creeks. ...

Seahorses are generally monogamous, though several species (H. abdominalis among them) are highly gregarious. In monogamous pairs, the male and female will greet one another with courtship displays in the morning and sometimes in the evening to reinforce their pair bond. They spend the rest of the day separate from each other hunting for food. The evolution of monogamy refers to the natural history of mating systems in which species reproduce by forming social pairs to raise offspring. ...

As pets

While many aquarium hobbyists keep seahorses as pets, seahorses collected from the wild tend to fare poorly in a home aquarium. They will eat only live foods such as brine shrimp and are prone to stress in an aquarium, which lowers the efficiency of their immune systems and makes them susceptible to disease. For other uses, see Aquarium (disambiguation). ... This article is about pastimes. ... Species Artemia franciscana Artemia gracilis Artemia monica Artemia nyos Artemia parartemia Artemia parthenogenetica Artemia persimilis Artemia pollicaris Artemia salina Artemia sinica Artemia tibetiana Artemia tunesiana Artemia urmiana Brine shrimp (Artemia) are a type of aquatic crustacean. ...

In recent years, however, captive breeding of seahorses has become increasingly widespread. These seahorses survive better in captivity, and they are less likely to carry diseases. These seahorses will accept frozen foods such as mysid shrimp, and they do not experience the shock and stress of being taken out of the wild and placed in a small aquarium. Although captive-bred seahorses are more expensive, they survive better than wild seahorses, and take no toll on wild populations. Captive breeding is the process of breeding endangered animals by capturing them from their natural environment, breeding them in restricted conditions in zoos and other conservation facilities, and releasing them back to the wild when the population stabilizes and the threat to the animal in the wild is lessened or... Families not necessarily a complete list: Mysidae Eucopiidae Lophogastridae Petalophthalmidae Gnathophausiidae The Mysidacea is an order of small, shrimp-like creatures including the species Neomysis americana (opossum shrimp). ...

Seahorses should be kept in an aquarium to themselves, or with compatible tank-mates. Seahorses are slow feeders, and in an aquarium with fast, aggressive feeders, the seahorses will be edged out in the competition for food. Special care should be given to ensure that all individuals obtain enough food at feeding times.

Seahorses can co-exist with many species of shrimp and other bottom-feeding creatures. Fish from the goby family also make good tank-mates. Some species are especially dangerous to the slow-moving seahorses and should be avoided completely: eels, tangs, triggerfish, squid, octopus, and sea anemones. Superfamilies Alpheoidea Atyoidea Bresilioidea Campylonotoidea Crangonoidea Galatheacaridoidea Nematocarcinoidea Oplophoroidea Palaemonoidea Pandaloidea Pasiphaeoidea Procaridoidea Processoidea Psalidopodoidea Stylodactyloidea True shrimp are small, swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Subfamilies Amblyopinae Gobiinae Gobionellinae Oxudercinae Sicydiinae See also list of Gobiidae genera The gobies form the family Gobiidae, which is one of the largest families of fish, with more than 2,000 species in more than 200 genera. ... For other uses, see Eel (disambiguation). ... Species Zebrasoma desjardinii Zebrasoma flavescens Zebrasoma gemmatum Zebrasoma rostratum Zebrasoma scopas Zebrasoma veliferum Zebrasoma xanthurum Tangs are a kind of saltwater fish which inhabit shallow reefs and beds of seagrass from the east coast of Africa northward to the Red Sea, over the broad span of the Atlantic, Indo-Pacific... Genera See text. ... SQUIDs, or Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices, are used to measure extremely small magnetic fields; they are currently the most sensitive such devices (magnetometers) known, with noise levels as low as 3 fT·Hz−½. While a typical fridge magnet is ~0. ... Families 11 in two suborders, see text. ... Families Many, see text. ...

Animals sold as "freshwater seahorses" are usually the closely related pipefish, of which a few species live in the lower reaches of rivers. The supposed true "freshwater seahorse" called Hippocampus aimei was not a real species, but a name sometimes used for individuals of Barbour's seahorse and Hedgehog seahorse. The latter is a species commonly found in brackish waters, but not actually a freshwater fish. For the village on the Isle of Wight, see Freshwater, Isle of Wight. ... Genera Pipefish (Syngnathidae) are small fish, which with the Seahorses form a distinct family. ... Brackish water is water that is saltier than fresh water, but not as salty as sea water. ...

Other adaptations

A seahorse has highly mobile eyes to watch for predators and prey without moving its body. Like the leafy sea dragon, it also has a long snout with which it sucks up its prey. Its fins are small because it must move through thick water vegetation. The seahorse has a long, prehensile tail which it will curl around any support such as seaweed to prevent being swept away by currents. Binomial name Phycodurus eques (Günther, 1865) The leafy sea dragon, Phycodurus eques, is a marine fish related to the seahorse. ... Seaweed-covered rocks in the UK For the rock musician, see; Seaweed (musician) Seaweeds are any of a large number of marine benthic algae. ...

Species

• Genus Hippocampus
  • Big-belly seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis Lesson, 1827 (New Zealand and south and east Australia)
  • Winged seahorse, Hippocampus alatus Kuiter, 2001
  • West African seahorse, Hippocampus algiricus Kaup, 1856
  • Narrow-bellied seahorse, Hippocampus angustus Günther, 1870
  • Barbour's seahorse, Hippocampus barbouri Jordan & Richardson, 1908
  • Pygmy seahorse, Hippocampus bargibanti Whitley, 1970 (West Pacific area (Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, etc)
  • False-eyed seahorse, Hippocampus biocellatus Kuiter, 2001
  • Réunion seahorse, Hippocampus borboniensis Duméril, 1870
  • Short-head seahorse, Hippocampus breviceps Peters, 1869 (south and east Australia)
  • Giraffe seahorse, Hippocampus camelopardalis Bianconi, 1854
  • Knysna seahorse, Hippocampus capensis Boulenger, 1900
  • Hippocampus colemani Kuiter, 2003
  • Tiger tail seahorse, Hippocampus comes Cantor, 1850
  • Hippocampus coronatus Temminck & Schlegel, 1850
  • Denise's pygmy seahorse, Hippocampus denise Lourie & Randall, 2003
  • Lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus Perry, 1810 (east coast of the Americas, between Nova Scotia and Uruguay)
  • Fisher's seahorse, Hippocampus fisheri Jordan & Evermann, 1903
  • Sea pony, Hippocampus fuscus Rüppell, 1838 (Indian Ocean)
  • Big-head seahorse, Hippocampus grandiceps Kuiter, 2001
  • Long-snouted seahorse, Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier, 1829
  • Eastern spiny seahorse, Hippocampus hendriki Kuiter, 2001
  • Short-snouted seahorse, Hippocampus hippocampus (Linnaeus, 1758) ( Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean)
  • Thorny seahorse, Hippocampus histrix Kaup, 1856 (Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and the Far East)
  • Pacific seahorse, Hippocampus ingens Girard, 1858 (Pacific coast of North, Central and South America
  • Jayakar's seahorse, Hippocampus jayakari Boulenger, 1900
  • Collared seahorse, Hippocampus jugumus Kuiter, 2001
  • Great seahorse, Hippocampus kelloggi Jordan & Snyder, 1901
  • Spotted seahorse, Hippocampus kuda Bleeker, 1852
  • Lichtenstein's Seahorse, Hippocampus lichtensteinii Kaup, 1856
  • Bullneck seahorse, Hippocampus minotaur Gomon, 1997
  • Japanese seahorse, Hippocampus mohnikei Bleeker, 1854
  • Monte Bello seahorse, Hippocampus montebelloensis Kuiter, 2001
  • Northern spiny seahorse, Hippocampus multispinus Kuiter, 2001
  • High-crown seahorse, Hippocampus procerus Kuiter, 2001
  • Queensland seahorse, Hippocampus queenslandicus Horne, 2001
  • Longsnout seahorse, Hippocampus reidi Ginsburg, 1933 (Caribbean coral reefs)
  • Half-spined seahorse, Hippocampus semispinosus Kuiter, 2001
  • Dhiho's seahorse, Hippocampus sindonis Jordan & Snyder, 1901
  • Hedgehog seahorse, Hippocampus spinosissimus Weber, 1913
  • West Australian seahorse, Hippocampus subelongatus Castelnau, 1873
  • Longnose seahorse, Hippocampus trimaculatus Leach, 1814
  • White's seahorse, Hippocampus whitei Bleeker, 1855 (east Australia)
  • Zebra seahorse, Hippocampus zebra Whitley, 1964
  • Dwarf seahorse, Hippocampus zosterae Jordan & Gilbert, 1882 (Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean)
  • Pippin seahorse, Pippocampus eihpos Snippe & Snippee(twins), 2006 (Waskesui×

Binomial name Hippocampus abdominalis Lesson, 1827 The big-belly seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, is a seahorse of the family Syngnathidae, found off southern Australia, and around New Zealand, from low tide level down to 100 m. ... Binomial name Hippocampus abdominalis Lesson, 1827 The big-belly seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, is a seahorse of the family Syngnathidae, found off southern Australia, and around New Zealand, from low tide level down to 100 m. ... For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... Species See text. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Official languages none (English, French, Gaelic) Flower Trailing arbutus Tree Red Spruce Bird Osprey Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Parliamentary representation  - House seats  - Senate seats 11 10 Area... Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea. ... It has been suggested that Persian Gulf States be merged into this article or section. ... Location of the Red Sea Image:Red Seaimage. ... The far east as a cultural block includes East Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and South Asia. ... For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... World map depicting Caribbean : West Indies redirects here. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... World map depicting Caribbean : West Indies redirects here. ...

See also

A sculpture of a heraldic seahorse that adorned an 18th or 19th century French naval vessel

In heraldry, a seahorse is depicted as a creature with the foreparts of a horse and the hindparts of a fish. See, for example, the right supporter of the Isle of Wight Arms, the supporters on either side of the crest of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, or the coincidental arms of the University of Newcastle, Australia. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 1651 KB)A sculpture of a heraldic depicition of a seahorse, by unknown 19th or 18th century French artist, showcased at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney, Australia, photographed by DONeil. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 1651 KB)A sculpture of a heraldic depicition of a seahorse, by unknown 19th or 18th century French artist, showcased at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney, Australia, photographed by DONeil. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. ... The arms of the Isle of Wight were granted in 1938, with the inscription: ALL THIS BEAUTY IS OF GOD the shield detail is used on the Flag At the centre of the shield is Carisbrooke Castle the historical seat of many former governors of the island. ... This article is about a city in the United Kingdom. ... The University of Newcastle is a university located in New South Wales, Australia. ...

The seahorse is prominent in the logo of Waterford Crystal and the logotype of illustrator W. W. Denslow. The world-famous Waterford Crystal Ball is lowered in Times Square, New York City, on New Years Eve Waterford Crystal is a trademark brand of crystal glassware produced in Waterford, Ireland, by the company Waterford Wedgwood plc. ... Categories: Stub | Oz ...

Gallery

Potbelly seahorse pair link tails at the Tennessee Aquarium. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2448x1632, 591 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Seahorse Tennessee Aquarium Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... The Tennessee Aquarium is a public aquarium in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, that opened its first exhibit in 1992. ...

Closeup on the head of a seahorse. Seahorse head closeup in natural environment Photographer: Bubbels, a. ...

Books

Sara A. Lourie, Amanda C.J. Vincent and Heather J. Hall: Seahorses: An Identification Guide to the World's Species and their Conversation. London: Project Seahorse, 1999

John Sparks: Battle of the Sexes: The Natural History of Sex. London: BBC Books, 1999

Seahorses in popular culture

• In SpongeBob SquarePants, seahorses (and also "sea ponies") are a common sight. However, their name is taken literally as they have horse-like heads and behave like horses.

• The National Society for Epilepsy chose a seahorse for its mascot named Cesar (after the Roman emperor, Julius Cesar, who was believed to have had epilepsy). The seahorse mascot was chosen because the hippocampus, a part of the brain that is resistant to damage from epileptic seizures, resembles a seahorse.

SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series and media franchise. ... Binomial name Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758 The horse (Equus caballus, sometimes seen as a subspecies of the Wild Horse, Equus ferus caballus) is a large odd-toed ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the genus Equus. ... The National Society for Epilepsy (NSE) is the largest medical charity in the field of epilepsy in the UK, providing services for people with epilepsy for over 100 years. ... The hippocampus is located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain. ... In animals, the brain, or encephalon (Greek for in the head), is the control center of the central nervous system. ...

Articles

Amanda C.J. Vincent and Laila M. Sadler. "Faithful pair bonds in wild seahorse, Hippocampus whitei." Animal Behaviour 50(1995): 1557-1569.

Amanda C.J. Vincent. "A role for daily greetings in maintaining seahorse pair bonds." Animal Behaviour 49 (1995): 258-260.

Amanda C.J. Vincent. "A seahorse father makes a good mother." Natural History, 12 (1990): 34-43.

Ananda C.J. Vincent and Rosie Woodroffe. "Mothers little helpers: patterns of male care in mammals." Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 9 (1994): 294-297.

External links

• ARKive - images and movies of the pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti)
• Project Seahorse
• Pygmy Seahorses: Hippocampus denise - Description and Photo gallery
• "Walea" Pygmy Seahorse - Description and Photo gallery
• "Pontohi" Pygmy Seahorse - Description and Photo gallery
• Seahorse Photos
• Seahorse.org
• Syngnathid.org
• Seahorses: World of Syngnathiformes

References