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Sea horse (Lat. Hippocampus hippocampus). Coastal fish species often found among meadows of Posidonia. It grows till 16 cm. With tail, sea-horse undertakes for objects on sea bottom. It swims upright and avoid predators by mimicking the colour of underwater plants. The body is variable in colour: brown, orange, purple or black, sometimes with pale blotches. Sea horse is frequent in lagunes and brackish waters. Females laying eggs in males’ abdomen and embryonal development occurs three weeks. They are known to be ambush predators whom feed on live, moving food. It feeds with small crabs and fishes. It has no teeth and no stomach. Food passes through their digestive systems so quickly, they must eat almost constantly to stay alive. Occasionally some specimens catches by trawls, and it’s under protection.
Local name
Morski konjić
English name
Short-snouted seahorse
Scientific name
Hippocampus hippocampus
Did you know?
Except for crabs, few marine predators eat the seahorse – it is too bony and indigestible
Weight
-
Length
Up to 0.16 m
Life span
5 years
Nutrition
Feeds on small crabs and fishes
Type of diet
Carnivorous
IUCN vulnerability status
Near Threatened (IUCN Red List)
Distribution
It is found in the northeastern Atlantic, from the north western Scotland, and the Netherlands south to Senegal and into the Mediterranean Sea as well as in the coastal waters of the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands