Morphology Data of Hippocampus erectus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Lourie, S.A., A.C.J. Vincent and H.J. Hall, 1999
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs other
Different appearance always different morphology between mature adults
Different colors
Remarks Males with brood pouch; females with ovipositor (Ref. 205). W/L ratio and length of tail of males greater than females (Ref. 52034).

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features striking shape of body
Body shape lateral other
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth terminal
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Description: (based on 51 specimens): Adult height: 5.5-18.5cm. Rings: 11 + 36 (34-39). Snout length: 2.6 (2.2-3.2) in head length. Dorsal fin rays: 18-19 (16-20) covering 2+1 rings. Pectoral fin rays: 15-16 (14-18). Coronet: variable, low, triangular wedge, or ridge-like or raised with sharp edges, or with relatively sharp spines. Spines: variable from none, to well-developed with blunt or sharp tips. Other distinctive characters: usually first, third, fifth, seventh and eleventh trunk rings enlarged (in most other species it is the first, fourth, seventh and eleventh); snout usually less than half head length; deep-bodied; cheek spine single or double. Color pattern: base color variable – ash grey, orange, brown, yellow, red or black; brown individuals tend to be paler on ventral side; often with a characteristic pattern of white lines following contour of neck; tiny white dots on tail; may have darker or paler ‘saddles’ across dorsal surface often in line with the more enlarged body rings.

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Hippocampus erectus

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 16 - 20
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes other (see remark)

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  used for locomotion
Spines     0
Soft-rays   14 - 18
Pelvics Attributes  suppressed/absent
Position    absent
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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