The seahorse is a genus of small marine bony fish of the pipefish family of the order Acutes. Number of species seahorses is about 50. Unusual shape resembles a horse's body chess piece horse 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 sizes of seahorses range from 2 to 30 cm, depending on the species to which a particular individual belongs. Interesting feature seahorse is that their offspring are carried by the male.
The taxonomy of the seahorse is very confusing due to the unique ability of these fish to change their appearance - color and even body shape. The closest relatives of seahorses are small fish - pipefish, which have much in common in the structure of the body with skates. However, the body shape and manner of movement in the water of sea “horses” is completely unusual.
The body of seahorses in water is located unconventionally for fish - vertically or diagonally. The reason for this is the relatively large swim bladder, most of which is located in the upper part of the seahorse's body. Confuse these graceful and colorful fish, similar to jewelry or toys, is impossible with any inhabitant of the water element.
The body of a seahorse is not covered with scales, but with bony plates. Spiked armor protects them from danger. The armor is so strong that it is almost impossible to break even from a dried-up dead belly. However, in its shell it is so light and fast that it literally floats in the water, and its body shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow - from orange to bluish blue, from lemon yellow to fiery red. In terms of brightness of color, it is worthy to compare this fish with tropical birds and brightly colored coral reef fish.
These fish live in tropical and subtropical zones. Their range encircles the entire globe. Seahorses live in shallow waters among seagrass beds or among corals. These are sedentary and generally very sedentary fish. Typically, seahorses wrap their tail around a branch of coral or a tuft of sea grass and spend most of their time in this position. But large sea dragons do not know how to attach to vegetation. On short distances they swim holding their body vertically; if they have to leave the “home”, they can swim in an almost horizontal position. They swim slowly. In general, the character of these fish is surprisingly calm and meek; seahorses do not show aggression towards their fellow fish and other fish.
They feed on plankton. They track the smallest crustaceans by rolling their eyes funny. As soon as the prey approaches the miniature hunter, the seahorse inflates its cheeks, creating negative pressure in the mouth and sucks up the crustacean like a vacuum cleaner. Despite their small size, skates are big eaters and can indulge in gluttony for up to 10 hours a day.
Seahorses have only three small fins: the dorsal one helps to swim forward, and two gill fins maintain vertical balance and serve as a rudder.
In a moment of danger, seahorses can significantly accelerate their movement, flapping their fins up to 35 times per second (some scientists even put the figure at 70). They are also masterful at vertical maneuvers. By changing the volume of the swim bladder, these fish move up and down in a spiral. However, seahorses are not capable of swimming rapidly - they are considered record holders for the slowest swimming among famous fish. Most of the time, the seahorse hangs motionless in the water, its tail hooked on algae, coral, or even the neck of a relative.
Skates can ride “astride” fish. Thanks to their curved tail, seahorses can travel long distances. They grab onto the fins of the perch and hold on until the fish swims into the algae thickets. And the skates grab their mate with their tail and swim in an embrace.
Seahorses have large eyes and quite sharp vision. Their tail is curved toward the belly, and their heads are decorated with horns of various shapes.
The skates' eyes move independently of one another. The seahorse's organ of vision is similar to the eyes of a chameleon. One eye of these fish can look forward, and the other can see what is happening behind.
Seahorses have the ability to change the color of their bodies, which allows them to skillfully camouflage themselves in thickets and among the bottom landscape. A lurking seahorse is almost impossible to spot in ambush unless you look extremely closely. The ability to camouflage is necessary for seahorses both for protection and for successful hunting, because they are active predators.
In the seas washing the shores of Russia, seahorses are represented by only two or three species - the Black Sea seahorse: found in the Black Sea and Seas of Azov, as well as the Japanese seahorse living in the Sea of Japan. Occasionally in the Black Sea you can find a long-faced seahorse, common in the seas of the Mediterranean basin. For permanent residence, seahorses choose quieter places; They do not like stormy currents and noisy tidal waves.
Seahorses are monogamous fish; they live in married pairs, but can periodically change partners. It is characteristic that these fish carry eggs, with males and females changing roles. IN mating season in females, a tube-shaped ovipositor grows, and in the male, thickened folds in the tail area form a pouch. Before spawning, partners perform a long mating dance.
The female lays eggs in the male's pouch and he carries them for about 2 weeks. Newborn fry emerge from the pouch through a narrow opening. Sea dragons do not have a pouch and hatch eggs on the stem of their tail. The fertility of different species ranges from 5 to 1500 fry. Newborn fish are completely independent and move away from the parent pair.
Among the seahorses there are also very small representatives, a couple of centimeters in size, and there are also, of a kind, giants up to 30 centimeters long. The smallest species, the pygmy seahorse, is found in the Gulf of Mexico. Its length does not exceed four centimeters. In Black and Mediterranean seas You can find a long-faced or spotted seahorse, the length of which reaches 12-18 centimeters. The most famous are representatives of the species Hippocampus kuda, which lives off the coast of Indonesia. Seahorses of this species, about 14 centimeters long, are brightly and variegatedly colored, some speckled, others striped. The largest seahorses are found near Australia.
The life expectancy of seahorses is, on average, 3-4 years. The extreme vitality of these fish is known - once removed from the water, they can live for several hours and return to normal life if released into their native element.
Natural enemies seahorses have few - its body is extremely bony and covered with bony formations. Therefore, it is hunted only by a large land crab, which is capable of digesting such difficult-to-digest prey. Seahorses are not dangerous to humans. This is a peaceful, harmless fish, and also very small.
The greatest danger to seahorses is man himself. Nowadays, seahorses are on the verge of extinction - their numbers are rapidly declining. 30 species of seahorses out of 32 are listed in the Red Book. known to science. There are many reasons for this, and one of them is the massive catching of skates off the coast of Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines. The exotic appearance of the fish has meant that people use them as souvenirs and gifts.
A separate point in the decline in seahorse populations is the fact that the taste of these fish is extremely valued by gourmets. Seahorse liver and caviar are considered a delicacy, although they have some laxative properties. A seahorse dish costs up to $800 per serving in some restaurants.
A huge number of seahorses (according to some estimates - up to 80 million seahorses per year) are used in countries Pacific region Asia and Australia for the production of medicines and drugs. These medications are used as pain relievers, for coughs and asthma, and also as a remedy for impotence. IN recent years this Far Eastern “Viagra” has become popular in Europe. ABOUT healing properties People have known seahorse meat since ancient times. Seahorses have been used to prepare various medicines and potions in many countries.
It is not very easy to keep seahorses in aquariums; they are demanding of food and are susceptible to disease, but it is very interesting to watch them.
Seahorses can sing. During mating games they perform peculiar dances around their partners and accompany themselves with clicking sounds, the tempo of which can vary.
Based on anatomical, molecular and genetic studies, the seahorse has been identified as a highly modified pipefish. Fossilized remains of seahorses are quite rare. The most studied fossils of the species Hippocampus guttulatus (synonym - H. ramulosus) from the formations of the Marecchia River (Italian province of Rimini). These finds are dated to the Lower Pliocene (about 3 million years ago). The earliest seahorse fossils are believed to be two Middle Miocene spinyfish species, Hippocampus sarmaticus and Hippocampus slovenicus, discovered in Slovenia. Their age is estimated at 13 million years. According to the molecular clock method, the seahorse and pipefish species diverged in the late Oligocene. There is a theory that this genus appeared in response to the emergence of large areas of shallow waters, which was caused by tectonic events. The appearance of vast shallows led to the spread of algae, and, as a result, the animals living in this environment.
Of the inhabitants underwater world The most unusual, but known to everyone, are seahorses. They belong to the needle family of the order Acicularis. The fact is that they are fellow fish called pipefish, whose bodies are retracted, narrow and long. The largest seahorses are called dragons, and in total there are about 50 species of seahorses.
After analyzing the structure of the seahorse, scientists found that it originated from the pipefish fish 13 million years ago. In appearance, these species are very similar, only the needle is straightened and the ridge is curved.
Description of the underwater "horse"
At first glance, it seems that the pipit is not a fish at all. If you look at the photo of a seahorse, it looks like a horse in chess pieces. The silhouette of this unusual fish is curved, the abdomen stands out forward, and the back is rounded. The front part of the skate's body is narrow and curved so that it resembles the neck and head of a horse. The front part of the head is elongated, the fish has bulging eyes. The long tail is wrapped in a spiral. The tail is quite flexible, which allows the seahorse to wrap itself around seaweed.
Its body is covered with a wide variety of bumps, thickenings and outgrowths. On their small body there are bone scales that act as armor; they are bright and iridescent. Such a skate shell cannot be penetrated; it is very strong and protects against sea predators.
Their colors vary in variety, but are still monochromatic. The color of the skates' covering depends on their habitat; they acquire the most similar color to best imitate the surface on which they live. So, for example, if a seahorse is among the corals, then most likely it is red or bright yellow or purple. Pipits that live in seaweed environments are brown, yellow, or green in color. They also tend to change shade when their environment changes.
Seahorses small sizes, the smallest start from 2 cm, and the largest reach 20 cm.
Habitat
Seahorses live underwater, mainly in the tropics and subtropics. This means that they live all over the planet.
Usually the fish live among seaweed or corals in shallow waters. Skates are inactive and inactive. Most of the time they are in a position with their tail caught on a coral branch or seaweed. Larger fish - sea dragons- cannot attach to aquatic vegetation in this way.
Lifestyle
Skates swim a little, not far from their usual place and slowly, while keeping their body vertical - this is one of the main differences from other fish. In an emergency, if they are spooked, they can swim in a horizontal position. When in danger, the seahorse quickly clings to coral or algae with its tail and freezes. He hangs upside down motionless. The skate can remain in this position for a very long time.
They also differ from other inhabitants of the seabed by their meek and calm character. These fish are not aggressive towards others. But they are still classified as predatory fish, since they feed on a variety of small organisms - plankton. They track the smallest mollusks, crustaceans, larvae of other fish and other invertebrates with their rotating eyes. When the prey comes close to the seahorse, it sucks it into its mouth, while strongly inflating its cheeks. This little fish is insatiable and can feed for about 10 hours a day.
Reproduction of seahorses
It should also be noted that these fish are monogamous. They say about seahorses that these fish live in married pairs all their lives. But it still happens when they change their partners. Another key feature is that male seahorses carry the eggs instead of females. During the mating season, skates change: the female grows an ovipositor in the form of a tube, and the male develops a pouch with thickened folds in the tail area. Before fertilization, the partners undergo a rather lengthy mating dance. This is touching courtship on the part of the male. It was also revealed that the male seahorse seems to adapt to the female, changing the color of his coat to match her.
The female places eggs in the male's pouch. So the male carries the eggs for about two weeks. There is a small hole in the bag through which the fry are born. As for sea dragons, they do not have a pouch. They hatch eggs on the very stem of the tail. The number of eggs varies depending on different types skates So, some may have 5 fry, while others may have 1500 eggs.
The birth itself is painful for the male. It happens that the outcome of the birth of fry is fatal for the skate.
Experiment
One day scientists conducted an experiment. A pair of males and a pair of females were placed in one aquarium to breed seahorses. After all the traditional courtship, the female laid her eggs to one of the males for further fertilization. The fertilized male was removed to a nearby aquarium. The remaining male tried to court this female, but all his efforts were in vain. She did not pay attention to him and did not try to lay eggs in his pouch. When they finally returned the male back to the aquarium with the female, she again chose him to fertilize her offspring. So he was removed again and again after the eggs were placed on him. Despite the fact that the second male continued to court her, the female seahorse still chose her previous male to reproduce. The experiment with fish was done 6 times - everything remained unchanged.
Fry
Of a thousand newborn fry, only 5% survive and continue labor.
The newly hatched fry are already completely independent and move away from their parents, choosing a new habitat for themselves.
Skates in the Red Book
Nowadays, most species of seahorses are rare, and some are completely disappearing from the seabed. After all, 30 species are listed in the Red Book. And all because the seahorse reproduces in small quantities. A ban has been introduced on the catch of skates. But despite this, people catch these fish in huge quantities for cooking. Gourmets consider the fillets of these fish to be truly a delicacy and sell them at incredible prices. Skates are also used in oriental medicine; various drugs are made from them for skin diseases and asthma. Because of the unusual beautiful view skates are dried and sold in large quantities as souvenirs. People deliberately bend the tail of the skate in reverse side so that its shape becomes like the letter S. Such fish do not exist in nature.
Water pollution also plays a large role in the extinction of most species of seahorses. After all, every year more and more waste is thrown into the oceans and chemicals, processed by industries. Environmental accidents and other pollution affect the extinction of corals and algae, which are so necessary for the life of seahorses.
Breeding seahorses at home
Despite the desire of many aquarium owners to have one at home interesting fish, the horse is very demanding for breeding at home. It is susceptible to various diseases and is too picky about feed.
Rare species of skates have a very difficult time staying in an aquarium. They may become stressed or get sick. Therefore, when breeding fish at home, it is necessary to create conditions close to natural environment habitat. If you carefully approach the breeding of a seahorse, it will delight its owner for 3-4 years.
Aquarium
It is necessary to monitor the temperature of the water in the aquarium. The optimal water temperature for them is approximately 23-25 degrees Celsius. For hot days, you need to take care of installing an aquarium split system or turn on a fan nearby. Otherwise, hot air has a detrimental effect on these fish, and they will simply suffocate.
In order for a seahorse to feel comfortable at home in an aquarium, it is necessary to monitor the quality of the water in it. The water in the aquarium should not contain ammonia or phosphates. You need to put corals and algae on the bottom. Various grottoes, jugs, castles and other products made from artificial materials are also welcome.
Fish nutrition
Seahorses eat often and a lot, so they need to be provided with 4-5 meals a day. Frozen meat of crustaceans, shrimp and other invertebrate mollusks is suitable for food. They also readily eat moths and daphnia.
Content Features
The seahorse is very demanding to care for, so owners of such royal fish need to be patient and persevering. Here are some features you need to know about:
Neighbors in the aquarium
Next door you can place calm fish or invertebrates in the aquarium. The fish should be small, slow and careful. Ideal neighbors seahorses will have blennies and gobies. They get along well with a snail, which does not sting corals and cleans the aquarium perfectly. You can also consider living stones as inhabitants of the “house” of needle-shaped fish. These are small pieces of limestone that have been in warm tropical waters for some time and are inhabited by various living organisms. All new neighbors must be healthy to avoid infecting the seahorses.
The seahorse is an amazing and unusual representative of tropical waters. Its appearance and some features of life differ from representatives marine environment. Among connoisseurs of such individuals, a common question is: is a seahorse a fish or an animal? The answer to this is simple - the individual belongs to the animal kingdom and the class of Ray-finned fish. After many years of research, scientists have proven that the animal is a close relative of the pipefish.
The seahorse belongs to the animal kingdom and the class of ray-finned fish
General information
Since the animal is considered a highly modified species of pipefish, it belongs to the order Aciliformes. The unusual body of the skate really resembles a chess piece. Perhaps this was the reason to give the animal such a name.
In its natural environment, the seahorse can be found in subtropical and tropical waters around the world. Salty and maximum clean water - best condition for his comfortable stay. The size of the seahorse is small and ranges from 2 to 30−32 cm. It is quite rare to find individuals that reach 35 cm in length.
There are many theories about where the seahorse lives, as it has been seen in different parts of the world. Most often the animal can be found in water bodies of Australia, sometimes England. Sometimes individual species are found in the Azov and Black Seas. It prefers to stay close to the bottom and uses algae as cover, camouflaging itself in their thickets and changing color according to the color they are painted in.
The seahorse prefers to be at the bottom of the reservoir and hide in algae
The body of the fish is covered with a very hard and bony shell., which protects against negative influences environment. Often the body has spines of different lengths and shapes, some are covered with long ribbon-like processes different colors. Surprisingly, this fish has no scales. A special feature of the structure will be the head, since it is very firmly attached to the body and does not rotate. If the horse wants to look back, it turns its whole body or bulges its eyes.
Each eye moves separately from the other. This feature is also inherent in chameleons, which can rotate each eye separately in a circle. There is some debate about how long seahorses live, as they usually live up to 4 years, but in some cases you can find representatives who live up to 6 years.
Another feature of the fish is its vertical position in the water. This is possible due to the fact that the swim bladder is divided into two sections by a thin septum and allows it to maintain a vertical position.
Popular types
There are about 50 species of seahorses in their natural habitat. Each of them differs in size, appearance and some structural features. The most common are the following:
In Southern Japan you can find dwarf individuals. They are painted in light colors with purple stripes or spots. They camouflage well as corals. They have a body length of no more than 3 cm. They prefer not to descend to a depth of more than 40 meters.
Nutritional Features
Amazing fish are one of the few species that are not hunted by other inhabitants depths of the sea. It's all about the structure of the individuals, in which spines and bone plates predominate. Large predatory fish or other hunters cannot digest such food. The only one who can eat the skate is the sand crab, whose stomach is able to digest what it eats.
The skates themselves feed on plankton.
The favorite delicacy of these unusual fish is baby crayfish and other small fish. Thanks to the amazing ability of the skate to camouflage itself and remain motionless for several hours, it successfully hunts them. It waits for the moment when the victim approaches and sucks it along with water into its mouth.
Seahorses do not have a stomach. That's why they are very gluttonous
Despite their small size, seahorses are very voracious and are capable of hunting and eating for up to 10 hours a day. large number small individuals. This is due to the fact that individuals do not have a stomach, so food passes through all sections quite quickly digestive system. If you keep them in captivity, Several feeding rules should be followed:
- Captive-bred specimens are capable of feeding on dead daphnia, shrimp and other small specimens, as well as dry fish food.
- The food should only be fresh.
- Individuals should be fed regularly, but avoid overeating, as in captivity this can cause a variety of diseases.
It is possible to install a variety of feeders in which food is placed. A few days after installing such an innovation, the individuals themselves will understand that this is a new place for eating. Several long rods or sticks should be installed near the feeders so that the skates can cling to them while eating.
Reproduction of seahorses
Unusual fish lead a sedentary lifestyle and are in one place almost all the time. In case of danger, they can develop decent speed or are attached to big fish so that they could move them to a safer place.
The fish is faithful and throughout his life prefers to be close to one partner. Only in rare cases does a female or male change her life partner. The most incredible thing will be the fact that in a married couple the male bears the offspring. After the start of spawning, the couple performs a certain mating dance for a long time. After this, the female transfers the eggs to a special pocket, which is located on the male’s belly.
After 2 weeks of gestation, the fry emerge from the pocket, are already independent and immediately set off for free swimming. Various types Pipits are distinguished by their fertility and can lay from 5 to 2000 eggs at a time.
Breeding skates in captivity is quite difficult and an aquarium hobbyist will not be able to cope with it. Despite the fact that individuals are quite popular among aquarists, keeping them in an artificial environment has many nuances. If the conditions are not met, they begin to get sick and die.
Currently, seahorses of various species are on the verge of extinction. This is due to the fact that in many countries fish is considered an expensive delicacy and is caught on an industrial scale. In some regions of Australia and Asia, skates are used as raw materials for the preparation of various ointments and medications.
Humanity has known about the healing properties of the meat of this amazing fish since ancient times and included it in many dishes. However, then amateur fishing could not significantly reduce the number of individuals. Now, catching has really become a problem, as it is gradually leading to the complete disappearance of the species.
Many have seen these sea creatures on TV or in aquariums, but not everyone realizes how surprising they can be interesting facts about a seahorse. These beautiful representatives of fish amaze with their unique properties. However, in wildlife It's very difficult to watch them. Moreover, the number of seahorses in lately sharply decreased due to the destruction of their habitats.
- Seahorses are the only fish with necks. Scientists have proven that seahorses are relatives of needle fish. True, during evolution their body has changed a lot. Unlike other fish, skates are located vertically in the water due to the fact that the swim bladder is distributed throughout the body. The S-shaped body shape allows skates to successfully hunt from cover. They freeze among the seaweed or reefs, and when a tiny larva swims by, they capture it by turning their heads.
- Skates can ride on fish. Thanks to their curved tail, seahorses can travel long distances. They grab onto the fins of the perch and hold on until the fish swims into the algae thickets. And the skates grab their mate with their tail and swim in an embrace.
- Skates' eyes move independently of each other. The seahorse's organ of vision is similar to the eyes of a chameleon. One eye of these fish can look forward, and the other can see what is happening behind.
- Master of Disguise Skates. The ability to change color depending on location allows seahorses to avoid numerous enemies. Just like chameleons, pipits match the color of their scales to the color of coral or algae, making them almost invisible.
- Seahorses have an excellent appetite. They don't have teeth, they don't even have a stomach. In order not to die, these fish have to eat constantly. With their proboscis, pipits suck in plankton, small larvae and crustaceans. Moreover, this happens so quickly that it is difficult to track.
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- Almost no one eats seahorses. These small fish can become prey for other predators only by accident. They consist almost entirely of bones, spines and scales, so there are few hunters for them, except perhaps stingrays and large crabs.
- Seahorses are susceptible to stress. Stress often poses a mortal danger to seahorses. These fish thrive in clean, calm water. Strong sea motion leads to depletion of their strength. And with a sudden change of location, they may even die. Therefore, it is difficult to breed skates in aquariums; they do not take root well in an artificial environment.
- The female chooses the male herself. We can say that seahorses have a matriarchy. After all, it is the females who decide which male to choose as a spouse.
- Seahorses perform mating dances. For several days, the female performs a kind of dance with her supposed chosen one, rising to the surface of the water and sinking to the bottom, intertwining her tails. If the male lags behind the bride, she will most likely abandon him and look for another, more profitable match.
- Male seahorses are "pregnant". If the female has chosen a suitable male, then she remains faithful to him until the end of her life. She entrusts the male with bearing the eggs and caring for the offspring. The female transfers the eggs to a special pouch on the male’s body. There, future skates grow within a month and a half. And then they are born as full-fledged fish. One male can simultaneously produce from 5 to 1.5 thousand fry. However, male seahorses still cannot be called pregnant. After all, fry are not born in their body, but are only kept until full maturity. This is a function of protecting future offspring.
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- Skates are fragile, but tenacious. One in a hundred seahorse fry born survives to become full-fledged adults. This is a very high indicator for fish. It is thanks to this indicator that seahorses have not become extinct to this day.
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- The horse is on the coat of arms of the city of Zaozersk. Several years in a row on the coat of arms Russian city Zaozersk (Murmansk region) a seahorse was depicted. The image was supposed to symbolize the naval power of the Northern Fleet. But, since seahorses are not found in the waters of the Barents Sea, the image of the seahorse was replaced by the image of a dolphin. It should be noted that seahorses are inhabitants of tropical and subtropical salt water bodies. And the most large seas Not all of Russia is included in this list.
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- 30 species of skates are listed in the Red Book. But science knows only 32 species of these fish. There are several reasons for the extinction of seahorses. But almost all of them are related to human activity. In Thailand, Australia, and Malaysia, skates are caught to be dried and used as souvenirs. In oriental medicine they are used to prepare medicines for asthma and skin diseases. In addition, the habitats of seahorses are polluted or completely destroyed by humans. And plankton useful for skates is often eaten by jellyfish, which are favorably affected by climate change.
- Seahorses are a delicacy. A dish using the liver and eyes of seahorses is served in the most expensive restaurants in the world. These parts of skates are considered very tasty and healthy. The cost of the delicacy is on average $800 per serving. And in China, fried skates are served on sticks.
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- Skates have lived on Earth for 40 million years.. Although fossilized seahorses are rare, scientists have proven that these fish have existed for tens of millions of years. They appeared at a time when, as a result of tectonic shifts in the earth's crust, shallows formed in the oceans and algae began to spread.