Common Seahorse, Hippocampus taeniopterus Bleeker, 1852
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© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Hippocampus
- Species
- taeniopterus
- Family
- Syngnathidae
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- Common Seahorses grow to 22 cm in height.
Introduction
As adults Common Seahorses are usually seen in pairs and can be found in a range of habitats including seagrass beds and mangroves.
Identification
Female Common Seahorses are usually yellow with a few large dark spots. Males are grey to brown with striations on the head and fine dark spots on the trunk.
The Common Seahorse is listed in many references as H. kuda.
Habitat
It is found in seagrass beds.
Distribution
The species occurs in tropical marine waters of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
In Australia it is known from near Darwin, Northern Territory and northern to southern Queensland.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Other behaviours and adaptations
This species usually occurs in pairs.
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- 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. 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.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and their Relatives. A Comprehensive Guide to Syngnathiformes. TMC Publishing Pp. 240.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
