Morphology Data of Hippocampus capensis
Identification keys
Main Ref. Lourie, S.A., A.C.J. Vincent and H.J. Hall, 1999
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs other
Different appearance always different morphology between mature adults
Different colors
Remarks Males with brood pouch; females with ovipositor (Ref. 205). Males are longer and heavier, have longer tail than females (Ref. 52034).

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features striking shape of body
Body shape lateral other
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth terminal
Diagnosis

Description: (based on 96 specimens): Adult height: 5.3-11.2cm. Rings: 11 + 34 (32-37). Snout length: ca. 3.0 in head length. Dorsal fin rays: 17 (16-18) covering 2+1 rings. Pectoral fin rays: 15 (14-17). Coronet: none, arch of neck is a smooth curve; juveniles may have a very small coronet but this disappears as they mature. Spines: none on body; very short and blunt on tail

Other distinctive characters: short snout; male with slight keel.

Color pattern: usually mottled greenish or brownish; can have scattered dark spots on body.

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Hippocampus capensis

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 16 - 18
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes other (see remark)

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 3 - 3

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  used for locomotion
Spines     0
Soft-rays   14 - 17
Pelvics Attributes  suppressed/absent
Position    absent
Spines     0
Soft-rays   0 - 0
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
Entered by Garilao, Cristina V.
Modified by Luna, Susan M.
Checked by Froese, Rainer
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cfm script by eagbayani, 17.10.00, php script by rolavides, 13/03/08 ,  last modified by sortiz, 06.27.17