Description

Also known as Spiny Seahorse, Thorny Seahorse.

Found singly or in pairs, anchored by their tails, over mud and sandy bottoms of the continental shelf, close to coral reefs, also sometimes off-shore attached to drifting seaweed rafts.
They feed on small crustaceans and planktonic invertebrates which they suck whole into their mouths.
Length - 17cm
Depth - 0-70m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

Pipefishes and Seahorses are unique in that the male gives birth! The female deposits their eggs after fertilisation into the males pouch to incubate the eggs for one month before giving birth.
They attach to anything they can get their tail around, even each other usually close to the bottom to blend in with their surroundings.
Seahorses are a threatened species because it is sought after for Chinese medicine. Ref: http://www.fishbase.org/summary/25974