The Seahorse

As it is a curiosity of the aquatic fauna, the seahorse was believed to be a fabulous creature for a long time. As soon as details about its fascinating life became known due to scientific research, it rapidly became a much sought-after aquarium fish. It is very difficult though, to keep it alive in an aquarium outside its natural habitat.

Where Do These Bizarre Creatures Live?

The ranges are along the shores from Indonesia to Australia, the Atlantic coasts of Europe, Africa and North America. Some species live in the waters of America’s Pacific coastline.

To sum it up: Seahorses can usually be found at the bottom of warm, shallow waters covered with eelgrass. While some species prefer muddy or sandy areas, others can be found hanging on corals, sponges or the roots of mangroves. In any case, you will find them near water currents, so that a sufficient occurrence of their main food, plankton, is guaranteed. In order not to be carried away by the current, the seahorses wrap their long tail around the nearest plant. Their tails are especially adjusted for grabbing.

The Way Seahorses Hunt Their Prey

Seahorses are able to move both of their eyes independently from each other. In that way, they can watch the movement of small aquatic animals that pass them by without giving away their own presence. As soon as they estimate their prey within reach, seahorses take a snap at the prey as quick as lightning or suck them in over a distance of up to three centimetres. The seahorse eludes the attention of a predator by means of long strands of skin and by camouflage colours that imitate the aquatic plants the seahorse lives in.

Besides edible crabs, the seahorse has no other predators. It is too bony and indigestible!

For once, a different allocation of the roles!

The 'twisted' allocation of the roles leads to females wooing for the attention of the males!

The male is responsible for hatching the brood. After a long and noisy courtship, the female squeezes its eggs into a pouch on the belly of the male. There, the eggs develop after fertilisation. The male produces a special nutrient solution for the embryos. At the end of the maturing period, the father releases swimming young into the sea, which are miniature versions of their parents.

As it is the responsibility of the male to hatch the young, the female can produce new eggs constantly!