ANIMAL SPECIES:Bigbelly Seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis Lesson, 1827
The Bigbelly Seahorse has a low coronet, and as the common name implies, adults have very big 'bellies'. They live in a variety of habitats including shallow areas of seagrass to deeper sponge gardens.
Identification
The Bigbelly Seahorse has a low coronet, and as the common name implies, adults have very big 'bellies'.
The colouration of the Bigbelly Seahorse is variable. It can be brown, orange, white, yellow, grey or even mottled. It sometimes has dark spots and long filaments on the head or body. The colouration appears correlated with habitat.
Size range
It grows to about 18 cm in length.Similar Species
The Bigbelly Seahorse looks similar to the Potbelly Seahorse, Hippocampus bleekeri. The two species can be separated by the Bigbelly Seahorse's shorter snout, the more common presence of head filaments in the Potbelly Seahorse, and their disjunct distributions.Distribution
It occurs in Australia and New Zealand. In Australia it is only known from the central to southern coasts of New South Wales.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Bigbelly Seahorse specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
The Bigbelly Seahorse lives in a range of habitats from shallow areas of seagrass to deeper sponge gardens.
Classification
- Species:
- abdominalis
- Genus:
- Hippocampus
- Family:
- Syngnathidae
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life; the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and their Relatives. A Comprehensive Guide to Syngnathiformes. TMC Publishing Pp. 240.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2001. Revision of the Australian Seahorses of the Genus Hippocampus (Syngnathiformes: Syngnathidae) with Descriptions of Nine New Species. Records of the Australian Museum. 53: 293-340.
- Lourie, S.A., Vincent, A.C.J.& H.J. Hall. 1999. Seahorses: an identification guide to the world's species and their conservation. Project Seahorse, London. Pp. 214.
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A Bigbelly Seahorse at Kurnell View full size
Ákos Lumnitzer
© Ákos Lumnitzer
A Bigbelly Seahorse at Bare Island View full size
Paula Zylstra & Harry Rothenfluh
© Paula Zylstra & Harry Rothenfluh
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