Animal Bites
Length: Pygmy Seahorse: ¾”
Length: Australian big-bellied seahorse: 12”
Where at the Zoo
Discovery Bay
Conservation Status
Of 39 seahorse species, one is doing well, seven are vulnerable, one is endangered and the rest are data deficient—demonstrating the urgent need for more research.
Northern Seahorse 
Habitat
Ocean
Taxonomic Category
Fish
Where in the World
Africa
Asia
Australia
Central America & Caribbean
Europe
North America
Pacific Islands
South America
Seahorse
Hippocampus
spp.
About 40 different species of seahorses live in a variety of coastal habitats around the world. With horse heads, monkey tails, vacuum mouths, and kangaroo pouches they may seem all mixed up, but they’re actually well adapted to thrive in their habitats.
What They Eat
Seahorses are predators. To eat, they suck in tiny animals like zooplankton and microscopic shrimp.
Where They Live
All seahorses require shallow
coasts where there are plenty of things to hold and enough moving water to carry food to them. Habitats include mangroves, coral reefs, and
seagrass meadows.
What They Do
Newborn seahorses drift with the ocean currents until they eventually settle in a new place. They then stay close to home, rarely venturing further than a few yards away.
How They’re Doing
Seahorses are in danger globally. They are bycatch
(captured accidentally in fish nets) and caught for use in traditional medicines and foods. Many governments regulate their trade but numbers remain low.
Click on an image to enlarge.
Seahorse
Seahorse
