ANIMAL SPECIES:Pygmy Seahorse, Hippocampus bargibanti Whitley, 1970
As its name implies, the Pygmy Seahorse is a tiny fish. It lives on gorgonians (sea fans) of the genus Muricella.
Identification
The Pygmy Seahorse has a short snout, rounded knob-like coronet and irregular bulbous tubercles on the body. It has a rounded spine above each eye and on each cheek.
Two colour morphs are recorded for this species, one is pale grey or purple with pink or red tubercles, the second is yellow with orange tubercles.
Size range
The Pygmy Seahorse grows to 2 cm in length.Distribution
This species is known from coral reefs of the Western Pacific including Australia.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Pygmy Seahorse specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
The species is found only on gorgonians (sea fans) of the genus Muricella, in depths of 16 m to 40 m.
Behaviour and adaptations
Other behaviours and adaptations
It is remarkably well camouflaged. The colour of the fish matches the gorgonian it inhabits, and the body tubercles look very similar to the polyps of the gorgonian.
Classification
- Species:
- bargibanti
- Genus:
- Hippocampus
- Family:
- Syngnathidae
- Order:
- Gasterosteiformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- 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, C.J. & H.J. Hall. 1999. Seahorses. An Identification Guide to the World's Species and their Conservation. Project Seahorse. Pp. 214.
- Whitley, G.P. 1970. [Bargibant's sea-horse from New Caledonia] in Abstracts of Proceedings. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 94(3) No.421:294.
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Pygmy Seahorse, Hippocampus bargibanti View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
Pygmy Seahorse View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
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