Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and seahorses) >
Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses) > Hippocampinae
Etymology: Hippocampus: Greek, ippos = horse + Greek,kampe = curvature (Ref. 45335). More on author: Günther.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 3 - 63 m (Ref. 30915). Tropical; 10°S - 24°S
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 7.8  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 22.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3132)
Eastern Indian Ocean: northwestern Australia only, from Torres Strait to North West Cape. Records from Queensland need verification; often misidentified with Hippocampus histrix. International trade is monitored through a licensing system (CITES II, since 5.15.04) and a minimum size of 10 cm applies.
Found in sheltered bays. Color varies from either white, orange or yellow with light patches and sometimes network of fine dark lines; also with narrow lines across snout. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205), monogamous (Ref. 36642). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
Lourie, S.A., A.C.J. Vincent and H.J. Hall, 1999. Seahorses: an identification guide to the world's species and their conservation. Project Seahorse, London. 214 p.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
More information
Age/SizeGrowthLength-weightLength-lengthLength-frequenciesMorphometricsMorphologyLarvaeLarval dynamicsRecruitmentAbundance
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00565 (-0.21493 - 0.22622), b=2.95 (2.83 - 3.06), based on LWR estimates for this family-BS (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±0.5 se; Based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (22 of 100) .