Hippocampus capensis Boulenger, 1900

Knysna seahorse

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

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Syngnathiformes \| Syngnathidae \| Hippocampinae
Synonyms	... more
Common names	Cape seahorse, 南非海马, Knysna-seeperdjie, ... more

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Image of Hippocampus capensis (Knysna seahorse)

Picture by Lourie, S.A.

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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 : 12.1 cm OT male/unsexed; (Ref. 31848); common length : 7.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4281)

Environment

Demersal; non-migratory; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 20 m (Ref. 30915)

Climate / Range

Temperate; 33°S - 34°S

Southeast Atlantic: endemic to South Africa. Hippocampus capensis has the smallest known range of any seahorse and was the first to be assessed as threatened on the IUCN Red List, in 1994. 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): 16 - 18; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 3. Description: (based on 96 specimens): Adult height: 5.3-11.2cm. Rings: 11 + 34 (32-37). Snout length: ca. 3.0 in head length. Dorsal fin rays: 17 (16-18) covering 2+1 rings. Pectoral fin rays: 15 (14-17). Coronet: none, arch of neck is a smooth curve; juveniles may have a very small coronet but this disappears as they mature. Spines: none on body; very short and blunt on tail Other distinctive characters: short snout; male with slight keel. Color pattern: usually mottled greenish or brownish; can have scattered dark spots on body.

Found in bays and estuaries among submerged vegetation; diurnal (Ref. 4281, 30915). Tolerates salinities from 1-59 ppt (Ref. 30915). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Length type refers to Height (= from top of coronet to the tip of straightened tail).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Endangered (EN) (B1+2c+3d)	Harmless

Human uses
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

Tools
Biogeographic modelling \| E-book \| Field guide \| Length-frequency wizard \| Life-history tool \| Point map

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Summary page \| Point data \| Common names \| Photos

Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=1; Fec=7)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Low vulnerability (16 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Cruz, Tess

Modified by Luna, Susan M.

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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