*Fascinating Fish Fact*

The seahorse (Hippocampus) is one of my favourite fish to see when I'm diving. They are found in tropical and temperate waters throughout the world, and range in size from 1.5-35cm. Here are some facts about these unique fish:

Seahorses are fish
After much debate, scientists have decided that seahorses are indeed fish. They belong in the Class Actinopterygii, the bony fish, which also includes larger fish such as cod and tuna. Unlike most other fish though, they do not have scales, only skin covering them.

Seahorses are bad swimmers
Seahorses prefer to rest in one area, sometimes hanging on to a piece of coral for long periods of time using their prehensile tails. They are however very maneuverable and are able to move up, down, forwards and backwards.

There are 53 known species worldwide
- according to the World Register of Marine Species. They are catergorised in the family Syngnathidae which includes pipefish and seadragons.

Seahorses eat almost constantly
They feed on plankton and small crustaceans, but do not have a stomach so the food passes through them very quickly causing the need to eat all the time.

Many seahorses mate for life
Many are monogamous, meaning they mate for life. The male and female have an elaborate, daily courtship ritual, involving a "dance" where they entwine their tails, and may change colors.

Male seahorses give birth
Unlike any other species, the males become pregnant. Females insert her eggs into the male's brood pouch. The male wiggles to get the eggs into position. Once all the eggs are inserted, the male goes to a nearby coral or seaweed and grabs on with his tail to wait out gestation, which may last several weeks. When it's time to give birth, he'll contort his body in contractions, until the young are born, sometimes over a period of minutes or hours. Baby seahorses are miniature versions of their parents.

Seahorses are experts at camouflage
Some seahorses, like the pygmy seahorse, have a shape, size and colour that allows them to blend in perfectly with their habitat. Others, such as the thorny seahorse, change colour to blend in with their surroundings.

Seahorse populations in Asia are in decline
This can largely be attributed to the use of seahorses in Asian medicines. There is no clinical proof that seahorses have any medicinal benefits, so please avoid buying any of these remedies.

Seahorses like to talk
They make clicking noises when interacting with other seahorses :)