Seahorse - fish small sizes, which is a representative of the Needle family from the Stickleback order. 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 chess piece 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. Exotic appearance and the bizarre shape of the body became the reason that 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 population decline seahorses– this is because 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 going 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.

If you liked this article and you like to read about animals, subscribe to site updates to be the first to receive the latest and most interesting articles about animals.

Seahorses are very peculiar fish with an extraordinary appearance and interesting biology. They belong to the spiny family of the order Stickleback. This affiliation is not accidental, because seahorses, one might say, are the brothers of others interesting fish- sea needles. There are 50 known species of seahorses, several of the largest species are called sea dragons.

Grass sea dragon, or ragpiper (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus).

The appearance of seahorses is so unusual that at first glance it is difficult to recognize them as fish. The body of the skates is bizarrely curved, the back sticks out with a hump, the abdomen also protrudes forward, the front part of the body is thin and curved like the neck of a horse (hence the name). The head is small, its front part is elongated like a tube, the eyes are bulging. The tail of seahorses is long and very flexible, calm state fish twist it into a ring or wrap their tail around the stems of aquatic plants. The body of skates is covered with various thickenings, knobs, outgrowths and similar decorations. The coloring of these fish is often monochromatic, but different species are colored very differently. In any case, the coloring of each species very accurately imitates the color and texture of the surface on which this horse lives. Pipits living among aquatic plants are often brown, yellowish, and green; Pipits living among corals can be red, bright yellow, or purple.

Seahorses are fluent in the art of camouflage.

In addition, each fish can change its hue to some extent. Seahorses are small fish, their size varies from 2 to 20 cm.

The smallest species, the dwarf seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti), is only 2 cm long. It is completely indistinguishable from coral branches.

These fish live in tropical and subtropical zones. Their range encircles the entire globe. Seahorses live in shallow waters among thickets seaweed or among the 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.

The intricately decorated leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques) is indistinguishable from its surroundings.

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 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.

Spawning pair of seahorses.

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. Fertility different types ranges from 5 to 1500 fry. Newborn fish are completely independent and move away from the parent pair.

Eggs on the tail sea ​​dragon.

Currently, many species of seahorses have become very rare, and some are even on the verge of extinction. This is facilitated by the massive catch of these fish and their low fertility. Seahorses are caught for meat, which is used in the cooking of eastern countries and in oriental medicine. In addition, souvenirs made from dried seahorses are very popular. 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.

The leafy sea dragon broods the eggs.

how a male seahorse gives birth to fry.

If you don't live near warm ocean or a water park you may not have seen seahorses or sea dragons to understand how amazing these tiny creatures are. Their long, elongated heads, like those of a horse, give them an almost mythical image. In reality, they are not immortal, and besides, many die during the storm. Sea “horses” hide with the help of excellent camouflage; long spines and ribbon-like outgrowths make them invisible in their natural underwater environment.

Seahorses range in size from 2 to 20 centimeters. Seahorses, like leafy sea dragons and pipefish, bear their young in special pouches where the female spawns. The burden of maternal care falls on. With such entertaining and interesting facts , as well as amazing photos of seahorses we invite you to familiarize yourself.

Seahorses (Hippocampus) - gentle and beautiful creatures get their names from the ancient Greek "hippo", which means "horse" and "campos" - " sea ​​monsters" The genus Hippocampus includes 54 species of marine fish.
The spotted seahorse in the photo is 15 centimeters long and lives up to four years.

A spectacular rainbow seahorse in Hamburg, Germany.

Leafy sea dragons at Georgia Aquarium. Sea “monsters” live off the southern coast of Australia and are masters of camouflage. Seemingly harmless, the sea dragon is a real predator - it feeds on small fish and shrimp.

The weedy sea dragon is endangered. With their small tubular snouts, relatives of seahorses suck up tiny prey, sometimes including various debris.

Leafy sea dragons at Birch Aquarium, San Diego, California. They can grow up to 35 cm in length. When the males are ready to mate, their leafy tails turn bright yellow.

Black Sea seahorse rare sight in shallow waters, Romania.

Leafy sea dragon in an aquarium, Atlanta. In nature, they live in the tropical coastal waters of South and Western Australia.

Spiny seahorse(Hippocampus histrix) gets its name from the spines protruding from it. Usually lives in - from 3 to 80 meters. One of the largest species of seahorses and can grow up to 17 cm.

Seahorse at the Oregon Aquarium. Sea Horses are not good swimmers. The other is the only species of fish where the males carry unborn offspring.

Weed sea dragon near seaweed, Sydney, Australia. Brown algae and reefs provide them with good camouflage and protection from predators.

At first glance, seahorses appear to be pregnant, but they are not. Bellied seahorses(Hippocampus abdominalis) is a separate species and one of the largest, can reach a length of 35 cm.

The spiny seahorse, like most of its fellows, is in danger of extinction. Human appetite for exotic fish is growing, which is why pipits have been added to the list of protected fish under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Leafy sea dragons, like their relatives, weed dragons, are very caring fathers. They bear their offspring on themselves. The fry that are born immediately become independent.

Pipefish another distant relative of seahorses. This creature has a longer, straighter body with tiny mouths.

Another of the seahorse relatives at the Wilhelm Zoo, Germany.

Macro photographs of gray and yellow seahorses at Zurich Zoo. When eating or interacting with other relatives, these fish make a “clicking” sound.

Seem like there is love between them...

Leafy sea dragons dance at the Dallas Aquarium. The only working fins are on the chest and back, so sea dragons are not very fast - 150 meters per hour. Individuals were observed that spent up to 68 hours in one place.

A pygmy seahorse provides excellent camouflage against soft corals near Cebu, Philippines. Pygmies reach maximum length 2.4 cm. Residential zone from southern Japan to Northern Australia in reef areas at a depth of 10-40 meters.

Pipefish - Solenostomus paradoxus - off the coast of Thailand. Close relatives of seahorses are various colors and sizes, from 2.5 to 50 cm.

Excellent camouflage.

Weedy sea dragons close up. Left: Shelly Beach weed dragon, Australia, right: eggs on male dragons.

Morning mating dances of seahorses.

The skinny body of the weed dragon “flies” through the water. The sea dragon's body and color develop based on environment, food products.

The skinny and toothless pipefish has a snake-like body.

Seahorses are voracious. The absence of a stomach and teeth forces them to constantly feed. In this regard, they consume up to 50 shrimp per day.

Before mating, the courtship ritual of seahorses lasts several days. Few couples stay together for life; most stay together only during the mating season.

Nature miracle.

Perfection of nature.

Close-up

Friendly family.

Schultz's pipefish - Corythoichthys schultzi - in Egypt.

Different types of seahorses and dragons.

Seahorses are the slowest sea fish.

Only 1% of fry grow to adulthood.

Seahorses are masters of camouflage.

The pygmy pipit is one of the smallest vertebrates in the world against a backdrop of soft corals.

Stunning shot: a kiss between lovers.

The beauty of a leafy sea dragon.

The pipefish family includes: seahorses, pipefish, leafy and weedy sea dragons.

Spiny seahorse.

The proud loneliness of a seahorse.

Close-up.

Curiosity.

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 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 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 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.

Do you know that...

An elephant turtle can live 1.5 years without food or drink

Site search

Let's get acquainted

Kingdom: Animals

Read all articles
Kingdom: Animals

Most of all, a seahorse resembles a chess piece of a knight. Bizarre, but clearly a horse's face on long neck, passing into the chest, and instead of a stand, a rather long, curled tail. Clinging to the branches of plants with their tails, the skates stick out in the thickets, like candles or funny toys on a Christmas tree.

Everything about skating is surprising. Look at the head - it is attached at almost 90 degrees to the body and never moves left or right. This “constructive deficiency” is made up for by eyes that can simultaneously look into different sides and rotate independently of each other, just like chameleons. Like the latter, seahorses can change their color to match the tone and color of aquatic plants.

Skates swim, if this can be called swimming, in an upright position with their heads slightly tilted downwards using wave-like movements of the dorsal fin, located just above the tail, and strong strokes of the pectoral fins.

With their habits, these fish do not at all resemble frisky horses. Seahorses lead a sedentary lifestyle. They usually attach their flexible tails to plant stems and change body color, completely blending into the background. In this way, they simultaneously protect themselves from predators and camouflage themselves while hunting.

Among fish, the seahorse is known for its monogamy, i.e. for keeping partners faithful until the end of life. Their courtship during the breeding season is very touching. The male and female of the same pair meet and dance together. This dance includes ritual walks “arm in arm” (with their tails intertwined) and surprisingly graceful circling among the seaweed; they perform peculiar dances around their partners and accompany themselves with clicking sounds, the tempo of which can vary.

But most amazing feature skates is the way they reproduce. Males have a special pouch on their abdomen. The female, using the ovipositor, introduces the eggs into the male's pouch, where they are fertilized and develop. The liquid filling the pockets contains no more salts than the caviar itself. But as the caviar develops, it becomes saltier in the pockets. This is necessary in order to gradually prepare the fry for life in sea ​​water. This is how the little fish live, like baby kangaroos, for two whole months in a pouch on their dad’s belly.

When the development of the larvae is completed, the father begins to bend forward and backward, helping the children get out of the inner folds of the bag, and squeezes the babies into the water in batches. Large males may have several hundred of them. Tiny fish, no more than 6 millimeters long, once in the wild, the first thing they do is try to cling to something with their thin tails, but most often they grab each other and - grandfather for a turnip, grandmother for a grandfather - remain hanging for a couple of days as a whole garland, but At the same time, do not forget to hunt.

Seahorses are unusually voracious. They catch anything living that can fit into their mouth. The tubular snout acts like a pipette: when the cheeks of the fish are sharply inflated, the prey is sharply drawn into the mouth from a distance of 4 cm. Young seahorses are able to feed up to 10 hours a day and during this time eat up to 3,600 small gill-footed Artemia crustaceans.

There are only a few in nature natural enemies Commonly well-camouflaged seahorses include: shrimp, crab, clownfish and tuna. In addition, they are often found undigested in the stomachs of dolphins. And, nevertheless, the most serious enemies of these creatures are people: seahorses belong to the category of sea biological species, are endangered.

In case of full or partial copying of materials, a valid link to the site UkhtaZoo required.