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ANIMAL SPECIES:Highcrown Seahorse, Hippocampus procerus Kuiter, 2001

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The Highcrown Seahorse can be recognised by a combination of characters that include a high, backward-directed coronet with five moderate-sized, sharp spines on the apex. The species is endemic to Australia.

Identification

The Highcrown Seahorse can be recognised by a combination of characters that include a high, backward-directed coronet with five moderate-sized, sharp spines on the apex. There are low spines on then 'neck' behind the head and usually one spine under the head between the eye and 'neck'. It is yellowish ventrally and brownish with dark scribbles dorsally. The snout is dusky to yellowish with white flecks and spots.

Size range

The Highcrown Seahorse grows to 11 cm in length.

Distribution

The species is endemic to Australia. It is known from southern Queensland, and one possibly erroneous record from the south-eastern Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland. The Highcrown Seahorse was described in 2001 by OzFishNet member Rudie Kuiter. The holotype of the species, from Hervey Bay, Queensland is registered in the Australian Museum fish collection (AMS E.2914).

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Highcrown Seahorse specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
procerus
Genus:
Hippocampus
Family:
Syngnathidae
Order:
Gasterosteiformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. 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(3): 293-340.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 28 July 2010

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