Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and seahorses) > Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses) > Hippocampinae
Etymology: Hippocampus: Greek, ippos = horse + Greek,kampe = curvature (Ref. 45335). More on author: Bleeker.

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; demersal; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 46 m (Ref. 4281), usually 1 - 25 m (Ref. 30915). Temperate, preferred ?; 20°S - 35°S, 145°E - 160°E

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Southwest Pacific: Solomon Islands and Australia. Records from southern Mozambique and Natal, South Africa are misidentifications of Hippocampus camelopardalis. International trade is monitored through a licensing system (CITES II, since 5.15.04) and a minimum size of 10 cm applies.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m 8.3, range 8 - ? cm
Max length : 13.0 cm OT male/unsexed; (Ref. 30915); common length : 8.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4281); max. reported age: 5 years (Ref. 93066)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-17; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 4.

In shallow, weedy inshore areas and Zostera seagrass beds; also on sponges. Also under jetties on holdfasts of kelp, and on other man-made structures such as shark nets. Diurnal and site faithful (Ref. 30915). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Gestation period 21-22 days depending on temperature (Ref. 30915). Monogamous and faithful to pair in the wild (Ref. 30915). Monogamous mating is observed as both obligate and genetic (Ref. 52881). Male carries the eggs in a brood pouch (Ref. 205).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Lourie, S.A., A.C.J. Vincent and H.J. Hall, 1999. Seahorses: an identification guide to the world's species and their conservation. Project Seahorse, London. 214 p. (Ref. 30915)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Data deficient (DD)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Appendix II:
International trade monitored

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

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Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00427 (0.00168 - 0.01086), b=3.00 (2.78 - 3.22), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278): 3.4 ±0.5 se; Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Resilience (Ref. 69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming annual Fec<1000).

Prior r = 1.01, 2 SD range = 0.5 - 2.03, log(r) = 0.01, SD log(r) = 0.35, Based on: 2 K, 3 tgen, 1 tmax, 2 Fec records

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Low vulnerability (11 of 100) .

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Hippocampus whitei Bleeker, 1855