Not crucian carp, not perch,
Has a long neck
Who is he? Guess it quickly!
Well, of course, it’s a hobby!
The seahorse (from the Latin Hippocampus) is a small, cute sea fish of an unusual shape from the genus of bony fish (the pipefish family) of the needle-shaped order. Looking at this fish, one immediately remembers the chess piece of a knight. The long neck is a distinctive feature of the skate. If you disassemble the skate into body parts, then its head resembles that of a horse, its tail resembles that of a monkey, its eyes resemble those of a chameleon, and its outer coverings resemble those of insects. The unusual structure of the tail allows the skate to cling to seaweed and corals and hide in them if it senses danger. The ability to mimic (camouflage) makes the seahorse practically invulnerable. The seahorse feeds on plankton. Young skates are quite voracious and can eat for 10 hours in a row, eating up to three thousand crustaceans and shrimp. The vertical position of the seahorse relative to the water is its distinctive feature.
It is interesting that the seahorse is a caring father and faithful husband. The difficult burden of motherhood falls on the shoulders of the male. The seahorse independently carries the baby in a special bag, which is located in the lower part of the seahorse's abdomen. It is there that the female introduces eggs during mating games. If the female dies, the male remains faithful to his partner for a long time and vice versa, if the male dies, the female remains faithful to the male for up to 4 weeks.
Dimensions
The size of a seahorse varies from two to three centimeters to 30. Thirty centimeters is the size of a giant seahorse. The average size is 10 or 12 centimeters. The smallest representatives, dwarf seahorses, are about 13 or even 3 millimeters. With a size of 13 centimeters, the mass of a seahorse is about 10 grams.
A few more photos of seahorses.
The pygmy seahorse is one of about fifty species of the genus seahorses, which are small bony fish from the family of fishes (order Spinefish).
Appearance of a dwarf seahorse
Like other seahorses, their dwarf relatives are shaped like a chess knight.
The many ribbon-like leathery outgrowths and long spines that are located on its body make the dwarf seahorse extremely invisible in the algae.
As a rule, it lives among marine vegetation, being practically inaccessible to predators. And while the size of some species of seahorses can reach thirty centimeters, the dwarf seahorse does not exceed four centimeters in length.
Its body is not covered with scales like most fish, but with bony plates. However, despite the fact that its shell is quite heavy, it moves quite easily, although not too fast. In appearance, it floats in the water, shimmering with different colors from dove-blue to orange, from fiery red to lemon yellow, from brown to black. Given the brightness of its color, the seahorse can rightfully be called a parrot of the deep sea.
Habitat of the pygmy seahorse
All seahorses prefer tropical and subtropical waters, and the pygmy seahorse is no exception and lives in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Prefers to choose calm places, avoiding stormy currents. The seahorse's lifestyle is characterized by low mobility.
Usually, using their flexible tail, they attach themselves to the stems of algae and, changing the color of their body, completely merge with the environment. Using this camouflage method, the dwarf seahorse hunts for food and hides from enemies. The dwarf seahorse uses mainly small crustaceans as food. The tubular stigma acts like a pump, drawing in prey along with water.
Contrary to popular belief that the seahorse's body shape resembles an "S" shape, this is not true. This shape is artificially given to seahorses by manufacturers of seahorse souvenirs. In fact, the hook of the seahorse's tail is curved towards the stomach. It should be noted that the closest relatives of seahorses (pipefish and stickleback) look completely ordinary.
Anatomical structure of a seahorse
The body of the pygmy seahorse is arranged in a vertical view. The reason for this is the specific structure of the swim bladder, which is located along the body along almost its entire length and is divided by a septum that separates the head of the swim bladder from the rest of the body. And since the head swim bladder is larger than the abdominal one, this provides the dwarf seahorse with a vertical position when swimming.
Origin of the pygmy seahorse
Research shows that the pygmy seahorse is a highly modified pipefish. Unfortunately, no fossilized remains of the pygmy seahorse were found. However, the lack of fossilized remains is a common problem for all seahorses, the oldest specimens of which were found in small quantities in Slovenia, and whose age is estimated at thirteen million years.
Reproduction of pygmy seahorses
The reproduction of pygmy seahorses is different from that of other animals. When the mating season begins, the male swims up to the female and both skates press against each other. At this time, the male opens his pocket wide, and the female throws several eggs into it. The male bears the offspring.
Pygmy seahorses are quite fertile and are thought to carry up to hundreds of embryos in a male's pouch. Dwarf seahorses navigate by the ebb and flow of the tides, due to the fact that the fry can be carried away by strong sea currents. During the breeding season, pygmy seahorse fry hatch every four weeks. They are provided to themselves immediately after birth. The lifespan of these seahorses is about four years.
Behavior of the pygmy seahorse
Dwarf seahorses swim very slowly. However, despite this they are successful hunters. Almost every pygmy seahorse hunt is successful. And, despite the extremely low speed of movement, the dwarf seahorse is able to grab swimming prey several times faster.
The favorite food of the dwarf seahorse is crustaceans. However, these crustaceans are able to swim away at great speed as soon as they feel the excitement of the water near them. It should be noted that their speed corresponds to five hundred body lengths every second. If a person were able to move at such a speed, he would reach a speed of 3200 km/h in water. And only seahorses can deceive the super-fast copepods. Hunting for them ends in success for the seahorse in 90% of cases.
Holographic observations of pygmy seahorses have shown that the pygmy seahorse's head has a special shape that allows it to minimize waves while opening its mouth.
When attacking prey, the pygmy seahorse tilts its head at the same angle as its prey. As a result, the waves do not have time to reach the crustacean and it does not have time to swim away.
Observations have also shown that other inhabitants of the deep sea, characterized by a blunter head shape, are not nearly as successful in hunting copepods.
Apparently, it was attempts to keep up with nimble and fast copepods that became the reason that, in the process of evolution, the seahorse's head acquired a characteristic shape. It is this anatomical property that has made seahorses perhaps the most successful hunters in the ocean.
Scientists call the dwarf seahorse's feeding method “rotary feeding,” in which the animal quickly rotates its head in the upward direction, drags in prey, and then, from a distance of one millimeter, sucks it into its mouth.
The dwarf seahorse takes less than one millisecond to do all this. In most cases, copepods manage to swim to a safe distance in two to three milliseconds, which makes them faster than the bulk of predators, but not faster than a seahorse.
Declining numbers of the pygmy seahorse
Seahorses as a whole are currently on the verge of extinction, and their populations are declining at a rapid rate.
Almost all species of seahorses known to science are already listed in the Red Book. There are many reasons for this sad state of affairs, but larger species of seahorses are suffering, among other things, due to the massive capture of these fish in the waters of the Philippines, Australia, Malaysia and Thailand.
The message about the seahorse can be used in preparation for the lesson. A story about a seahorse for children can be supplemented with interesting facts.
Report about the seahorse
Seahorses belong to the class of bony fish. There are about 50 species in total. Seahorses can range in size from 2 to 30 cm, depending on the species. An ordinary seahorse can live 5 years.
Their body shape is similar to a chess piece of a knight. Numerous long spines and ribbon-like leathery outgrowths located on the skate’s body make it invisible among the algae and inaccessible to predators.
The habitat of seahorses is tropical and subtropical seas.
Seahorse description
The head of these fish is similar to that of a horse, but there are no scales. Their body is covered with hard bony plates. With its tail bent forward, the seahorse clings to the stems of sea grass like a monkey. A seahorse's eyes rotate in any direction, and if one eye is looking to the right, the other may be looking at something to the left at the same time. This is very convenient for the skate, since it can simultaneously inspect the algae from all sides in search of food and keep an eye on the enemies, who themselves would not mind eating it.
The seahorse does not like to swim and spends most of its life with its tail caught in algae. Swims slowly and only in search of food, during weddings and to escape from enemies.
It's interesting to watch a seahorse swim. A large swim bladder located in the skate's head helps it maintain an upright position. It does not move horizontally, but jerks up and down, moving diagonally in the direction of the target.
What do seahorses eat?
Seahorses lead a bottom-dwelling lifestyle, feeding on plankton and small invertebrates.
Reproduction of seahorses
These animals also have an unusual method of reproduction. When the eggs reach the desired stage, the females begin to compete with each other for male attention. Having achieved favor, the female lays part of the eggs in a special sac, which is located on the male’s abdomen. There the eggs are fertilized. The male carries the eggs until the young hatch. There can be from 2 to 1000 individuals. If many cubs are born, their father may even die. During the breeding season, fry hatch every 4 weeks. Immediately after birth, they are left to their own devices.
Interesting facts about seahorses
- The pipit is very bony, so it is hunted only by large land crabs that can digest it.
- Seahorses' eyes are similar to those of chameleons and can move independently of each other;
- The seahorse is a master of camouflage. Their scales can become “invisible” - merge with the environment;
- Their mouth works like a vacuum cleaner - they suck up plankton to eat.
We hope the information presented about the seahorse helped you. You can leave your report about the seahorse using the comment form.
Avid aquarists like to breed a wide variety of exotic fish and bright, unusual animals that attract with their non-standard, bizarre proportions and interesting, sometimes playful behavior. And none, and even cannot be compared with the brightest inhabitants of sea waters - seahorses.
The seahorse is one of the most unusual representatives of the aquarium world. Despite their bizarre shapes, all seahorses belong to the subgroup of bony marine fish, the spiny fish order.
This is interesting! There are only one males on the planet, who themselves bear their future offspring - seahorses.
If you take a closer look, you yourself will notice the striking resemblance of these small bony fish to a chess piece. And how interestingly the seahorse moves in the water, bends all over and very proudly carries its magnificently built head!
Despite the apparent difficulty, keeping a seahorse is practically the same as keeping any other inhabitants of the aquarium world. But, before purchasing one or several individuals, you should take into account many factors, without which the life of this bright and interesting “sea needle” may not be as long as we would like.
Seahorses: interesting facts
The existence of the seahorse was known a thousand years before our era. In ancient Roman mythology, it is said that the god of water streams and the sea, Neptune, every time he went to check his possessions, harnessed a “sea needle”, very similar to a horse, to his chariot. Therefore, for sure, Lord Neptune cannot be huge if he moved on small thirty-centimeter skates. But, seriously, it is very rare in nature today to find spinyfish that reach 30 cm in length. Most “pipits” barely reach twelve centimeters.
In our time, it is already known about the existence of fossilized remains of the ancestors of the seahorse. In the course of a study at the genetic level, scientists revealed the similarity of the seahorse with the needle fish.
What are they like - seahorses
Today, marine aquarists keep seahorses, which range in length from 12 millimeters to twenty centimeters. However, most of all, aquarists prefer to care for Hippocampus erectus, those. standard seahorses.
Seahorses were specifically named this way because the head, chest, and neck are completely similar to horse parts of the body. At the same time, they differ from fish in a different physique. The horse's head of these individuals is positioned completely differently than that of fish - in relation to the body, it is located at ninety degrees. What’s also interesting is that these sea fish have eyes that look in different directions.
And these small, cute sea creatures swim not horizontally, but vertically and have scales all over their bodies, strong armor - colorful, iridescent bone plates. The shell of these sea needle-shaped individuals is “steel”, so that it cannot be penetrated.
I would also like to mention the interesting property of the twisted, long tail of a sea fish in the shape of a spiral. If seahorses feel that there is a predator nearby, they very quickly run into shelter, algae, which they skillfully cling to with their spiral tail and manage to hide.
This is interesting! Feeling that danger threatens, sea fish - pipits - cling to corals or algae with their long tails and remain motionless for a long time, hanging upside down.
Despite such a cute appearance, seahorses are classified as predatory fish, as they feed on shrimp and sea crustaceans.
The seahorse has the ability to camouflage itself. They mimic like chameleons, taking on the color of the place they stop at. Basically, these marine fish like to hide where there are richer, brighter colors to avoid predators. And with the help of bright colors, the male attracts the attention of the female, which he really liked. To please the female, he can even “put on” her color.
Seahorses, despite their numbers, are considered rare fish, so their thirty subspecies are listed in the Red Book. The problem is that from year to year the world's oceans turn into a universally polluted, garbage "dump", which is why corals and algae die en masse, and these photosynthetic organisms are vital for seahorses.
And also, the seahorse itself has long been a valuable animal. The Chinese catch these fish in large numbers because they believe that they cure any disease. In many European countries, dead seahorses automatically become raw materials for the manufacture of various souvenirs.
Keeping seahorses at home
Bony seahorses are unusual, bright, funny and very beautiful creatures. Maybe, feeling their beauty and greatness, they become very “capricious” when they find themselves in captivity. And to make these fish feel good, even experienced aquarists should try very hard. A natural habitat must be created for them so that the animals feel there the same way as in sea water. It is very important to monitor the temperature of the aquariums. Seahorses will feel comfortable in cool water with a temperature of twenty-three to twenty-five degrees Celsius, but no more. During hot periods, be sure to install a split system above the aquarium; you can simply turn on the fan. The hot air can suffocate these little creatures even in warm water.
Before placing purchased skates in an aquarium with regular water, check its quality: it should not contain phosphates or ammonia. The maximum concentration of nitrates in water is allowed at a level of ten ppm. Also, don’t forget to install your favorite seahorse algae and corals in the aquarium. Surface grottoes made of artificial material will also look beautiful.
So, you have taken care of the seahorse house. Taking care of their diet will also be important for them, because these beautiful sea creatures often love to eat a lot of meat and exotic foods. A seahorse should eat at least four to five times a day, receiving meat from shrimp and crustaceans. To do this, you can forage for frozen invertebrate mollusks and crustaceans. Seahorses love Mysis shrimp and will happily eat moths and even daphnia.
- All seahorses suffer from limited gas exchange due to low gill efficiency. This is why constant water filtration and oxygen supply is a vital process for seahorses.
- Seahorses do not have stomachs; therefore, in order to maintain themselves normally and not lose energy balance, they require a lot of food.
- Seahorses do not have scales, which is why they are easily susceptible to any infections, especially bacterial ones. An ecosystem moderator in a confined space should frequently inspect the seahorse's body, which may be damaged.
- Seahorses have interesting mouths - proboscis, with the help of which these creatures suck up caught prey with such speed that they can swallow a dozen spineless mollusks at a time.
Reproduction of seahorses
Seahorses are skilled cavaliers! They begin their courtship with a mating dance, which they demonstrate to the female. If everything worked out, the fish touch each other, wrap themselves around each other and look closely. This is how seahorses get to know each other. After numerous “embraces,” the female begins, using her genital nipple, to throw a large army of eggs into the male’s purse. Transparent seahorse fry are born after 30 days, ranging from twenty to two hundred individuals. The fry are born by males!
This is interesting! In nature, there is a subspecies of male extraordinary seahorses capable of bearing over a thousand fry.
It is noteworthy that the male seahorse has a very difficult time giving birth; after giving birth, within a day, or even two, he rests for a long time at the bottom of the reservoir. And only the male, not the female, takes care of his babies for a long time, who, in case of impending danger, can again hide in their father’s brood pouch.
Seahorse's aquarium neighbors
Seahorses are unpretentious and mysterious animals. They can very easily get along with other fish and invertebrate species. Only small fish, very slow and careful, are suitable for them as neighbors. Fish such as gobies and blennies can become such neighbors for skates. Among the invertebrates, we can highlight the snail, which is an excellent aquarium cleaner and also does not sting corals.
You can also place live stones in aquariums with needlefish, the main thing is that they are completely healthy and do not cause diseases.
Where to buy a seahorse
Any online aquarium and pet store offers live pictures and photographs of different types of seahorses that will help you choose the most ideal option.
It is here or in any pet store in your city that you can purchase a seahorse at the best prices. In the future, many pet stores offer significant discounts for their regular customers, ranging from 10% and higher when ordering a batch of seahorses.
The seahorse is a small fish, which is a representative of the Spine family from the order Stickleback. Research has shown that the seahorse is a highly modified pipefish. Today the seahorse is a rather rare creature. In this article you will find a description and photo of a seahorse and learn a lot of new and interesting things about this extraordinary creature.
The seahorse looks very unusual and its body shape resembles a chess piece of a horse. The seahorse fish has many long bony spines and various leathery projections on its body. Thanks to this body structure, the seahorse appears unnoticed among the algae and remains inaccessible to predators. The seahorse looks amazing, it has small fins, its eyes rotate independently of each other, and its tail is curled into a spiral. The seahorse looks diverse, because it can change the color of its scales.
The seahorse looks small, its size depends on the species and varies from 4 to 25 cm. In the water, the seahorse swims vertically, unlike other fish. This is due to the fact that the seahorse’s swim bladder consists of an abdominal and a head part. The head bladder is larger than the abdominal one, which allows the seahorse to maintain an upright position when swimming.
Now the seahorse is becoming increasingly rare and is on the verge of extinction due to a rapid decline in numbers. There are many reasons for the disappearance of the seahorse. The main one is the destruction by humans of both the fish itself and its habitats. Off the coast of Australia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, pipits are being caught en masse. The exotic appearance and bizarre body shape are the reason why people began to make gift souvenirs from them. For beauty, the tail is artificially arched and the body is given the shape of the letter “S”, but in nature skates do not look like that.
Another reason that contributes to the decline in the seahorse population is that they are a delicacy. Gourmets highly value the taste of these fish, especially the eyes and liver of seahorses. In a restaurant, the cost of one serving of such a dish costs $800.
In total, there are about 50 species of seahorses, 30 of which are already listed in the Red Book. Luckily, seahorses are very fertile and can produce over a thousand young at a time, keeping the seahorses from becoming extinct. Seahorses are bred in captivity, but this fish is very demanding to keep. One of the most extravagant seahorses is the rag-picker seahorse, which you can see in the photo below.
The seahorse lives in tropical and subtropical seas. The seahorse fish lives mainly at shallow depths or near the shore and leads a sedentary lifestyle. The seahorse lives in dense thickets of algae and other marine vegetation. It attaches itself to plant stems or corals with its flexible tail, remaining almost invisible due to its body covered with various projections and spines.
The seahorse fish changes body color to completely blend in with its environment. In this way, the seahorse successfully camouflages itself not only from predators, but also while foraging for food. The seahorse is very bony, so few people want to eat it. The main hunter of the seahorse is the large land crab. The seahorse can travel long distances. To do this, it attaches its tail to the fins of various fish and hangs on them until the “free taxi” swims into the algae thickets.
What do seahorses eat?
Seahorses eat crustaceans and shrimp. Seahorses eat very interestingly. The tubular stigma, like a pipette, draws prey into the mouth along with water. Seahorses eat quite a lot and hunt almost the whole day, taking short breaks of a couple of hours.
Seahorses eat about 3 thousand planktonic crustaceans per day. But seahorses eat almost any food, as long as it does not exceed the size of their mouth. The seahorse fish is a hunter. With its flexible tail, the seahorse clings to the algae and remains motionless until the prey is in the required proximity to the head. After which the seahorse absorbs water along with food.
How do seahorses reproduce?
Seahorses reproduce in a rather unusual way, because their young are carried by the male. Seahorses often have monogamous pairs. The mating season of seahorses is an amazing sight. A couple who are about to enter into a marriage union are held together by their tails and dance in the water. During the dance, the skates press against each other, after which the male opens a special pocket in the abdominal area, into which the female throws eggs. Subsequently, the male bears offspring for a month.
Seahorses reproduce quite often and produce large offspring. A seahorse gives birth to one thousand or more young at a time. The fry are born an absolute copy of the adults, only very tiny. The babies that are born are left to their own devices. In nature, a seahorse lives for about 4-5 years.
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