WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Longnose Seahorse

Hippocampus trimaculatus

Also known as: Flat-faced Seahorse, Lowcrown Seahorse, Low-crowned Seahorse, Smooth Seahorse, Threespot Seahorse, Three-spotted Seahorse

ENEndangeredIUCN Red List, 2026
Adult
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01

Overview

Found singly, or in pairs, anchored to vegetation or debris with their tails, on mud and sandy bottoms, over shallow estuaries, mangroves, and reefs, also sometimes offshore, attached to drifting seaweed rafts.
They feed on small 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

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03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in pairs, anchored to vegetation or debris with their tails, on mud and sandy bottoms, over shallow estuaries, mangroves, and reefs, also sometimes offshore, attached to drifting seaweed rafts.

04

Adult photos 0

05

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 trimaculatus Leach, 1814

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Pipefishes-Seahorses (Syngnathidae)