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Good morning all another Tuesday and of course that means it is time for another creature and this weeks creature is the Short-Snouted Seahorse.
With the head of a horse, a long forward curling tail and a set spiny eyelashes, this seahorse is unlikely looking creature. It measures just 13cm from head to tail and is able to change colour from green and yellow to maroon, purple and black to mimic the plants in which it lives.
These little beauties are found in shallow coastal waters of the United Kingdom, Western Europe and the Mediterranean. The short-snouted seahorse is a species of seahorse in the family Syngnathidae. It was endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and parts of the North Atlantic, particularly around Italy and the Canary Islands. In 2007, colonies of the species were discovered in the River Thames around London and Southend-on-Sea
Males are aggressive when fighting for a mate they use their snouts to shove their rivals and their tails to wrestle one another. Males and females mate for life and males carry the eggs in a brood pouch on their stomach.
The Short Snouted Seahorse is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List and are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. They are threatened by environmental pollution and damage to their seagrass habitat.
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These are interesting Jo-Anne. We have a sea horse farm down the Tamar but never been as yet.
ReplyDeleteThey are interesting little creatures
DeleteWhat a unique creature, Jo-Anne! I find it interesting that the males actually carry the eggs. Wow!
ReplyDeleteI agree unique and so tiny
DeleteFascinating, they sound like the chameleons of the sea.
ReplyDeleteSeahorses are absolutely fascinating--and cute! :)
ReplyDelete