Seahorse
Genus Hippocampus
Fascinating Facts
- These fish are monogamous, and some species mate for life.
- The genus name comes from ancient Greek; hippos meaning “horse” and kampos meaning “sea monster.”
- Seahorses have excellent eyesight and their eyes are able to work independently on either side of their head.
- Females deposit eggs into the male’s kangaroo-like pouch where he fertilizes and then incubates them until they hatch.
- They can change colors to blend in with their surroundings.
Habitat/Diet
Seahorses anchor themselves to sea grasses and corals with their prehensile tails. They lack teeth, sucking in small animals through their snout like a straw. They can eat up to 3,000 crustaceans, fish, and zooplankton a day!
Status in the Wild
Cape Seahorse – Endangered, IUCN 2012
All other species Data Deficient or Vulnerable; visit The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species for more information.
Range
Shallow tropical and temperate waters throughout the world
Location in the Zoo
Fish and Amphibians Zone of the Sculpture Learning Plaza