Species · GBIF taxon 5201075
Lined Seahorse
Hippocampus erectusAlso known as Northern Seahorse, Spotted Seahorse
Lined seahorses anchor themselves to seagrasses, sponges, and sargassum using their highly flexible prehensile tails. These master mimics can rapidly shift their coloration to blend seamlessly with their surroundings, lying in wait to ambush tiny passing crustaceans. During the breeding season, females deposit eggs into the male's specialized brood pouch, where he fertilizes, carries, and eventually gives birth to the tiny offspring.
MarineCamouflagedVulnerable
Licensed referenceBrian Gratwicke / CC BY 2.0 · CC BY 2.0
- diet
- Small crustaceans, zooplankton, and larval fish
- family
- Syngnathidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, accidental bycatch in shrimp trawls, and harvesting for the aquarium trade
- life Span
- 1 to 4 years
VU
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Listed as Vulnerable due to coastal habitat degradation, commercial bycatch, and targeted harvesting for traditional medicine and the aquarium trade.
Observe quietly without disturbing their anchoring vegetation, and never collect wild individuals for home aquariums.- Look Closely: Scan seagrass blades and floating sargassum mats where they use their prehensile tails to anchor.
- Keep Distance: Avoid touching or handling wild seahorses, as they are fragile and easily stressed.
- Watch for Mimicry: Look for subtle changes in color and skin filaments that match the surrounding vegetation.