WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Denise's Pygmy Seahorse

Hippocampus denise

Also known as: Miniature Seahorse, Plucked Chicken Pygmy Seahorse, Pygmy Seahorse, Yellow Pygmy Seahorse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2024
Adult
@blogie · Mansud Wall, Talikud Island, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines · October 20111 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly, pairs, or in colonies, camouflaged, and anchored by their tails, to their host gorgonian sea fans.
They feed on tiny crustaceans and zooplankton, which they suck whole into their mouths.

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.

02

How to identify

Body shape
warts

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly, pairs, or in colonies, camouflaged, and anchored by their tails, to their host gorgonian sea fans.

04

Adult photos 1

06

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderSyngnathiformes
    5. familySyngnathidae
    6. genusHippocampus
    7. speciesHippocampus denise Lourie & Randall, 2003

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    07

    More in the family

    Pipefishes-Seahorses (Syngnathidae)