Hippocampus abdominalis Lesson, 1827

Big-belly seahorse

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Syngnathiformes \| Syngnathidae \| Hippocampinae
Synonyms	Hippocampus agnesae, Hippocampus bleekeri, Hippocampus graciliformis, ... more
Common names	Big-bellied Seahorse, Bigbelly seahorse, Storbuget søhest, ... more

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Image of Hippocampus abdominalis (Big-belly seahorse)

Picture by Richardson, Laurence J.

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AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Lourie, S.A., A.C.J. Vincent and H.J. Hall. 1999. (Ref. 30915)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 35.0 cm OT male/unsexed; (Ref. 6787); common length : 18.0 cm OT male/unsexed; (Ref. 9003)

Environment

Demersal; non-migratory; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 104 m (Ref. 52034)

Climate / Range

Temperate; 24°S - 50°S, 80°E - 120°W (Ref. 52034)

Southwest Pacific: Australia and New Zealand. Vulnerable (Ref. 30915). Occurrence in Thailand and the Philippines (Ref. 43081) needs verification. International trade is monitored through a licensing system (CITES II, since 5.15.04) and a minimum size of 10 cm applies.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25 - 31; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 4. Description: (based on 17 specimens): Adult height: 8.0-32.0 cm; Rings: 12-13 + 47 (45-48) Snout length: 2.6 (2.2-3.2) in head length; Dorsal fin rays: 27-28 (25-29) covering 4+1 rings; Pectoral fin rays: 15-17; Caudal fin absent; Coronet: low, triangular wedge; Spines: low, rounded bumps only. Other distinctive characters: (very) prominent rounded eye spines; often with thick fronds attached to head region; very deep body with keel (especially females); mature males have extremely prominent (usually white) brood pouch. Color pattern: pale, near white to mottled yellow to variable brown; dark spots and splotches on head and trunk; tail with alternating dark and light bands; dorsal fin mottled; males have more dark blotches than females and commonly have a yellow slash near the top of the pouch 34.

Found in large rock pools at low tide. They remain motionless amidst seaweed. Juveniles are pelagic (Ref. 30915) or attached to drifting seaweeds (Ref. 31838). Feed on minute crustaceans (e.g. copepods and amphipods). Nocturnal (Ref. 9003). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Seen in groups at night. Also around jetties and other man-made objects; attached to sponges and colonial hydroids in deeper water (Ref. 30915). Length measurements refer to height (= TL - head length). This is the largest seahorse species in southeastern Australia, and has more dorsal fin rays and tail rings than any other seahorse (Ref. 31838). Sold locally and internationally for the aquarium trade (Ref. 31838). Dried and sold to the Oriental medicine trade as a tonic and aphrodisiac (Ref. 5316, 34026).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Data deficient (DD)	Harmless

Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

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Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming annual Fec<1000)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Low vulnerability (19 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Garilao, Cristina V.

Modified by Luna, Susan M.

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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