WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Tigertail Seahorse

Hippocampus comes

Also known as: Spotted Seahorse, Tiger-tailed Seahorse

ENEndangeredIUCN Red List, 2026
Adult
@perigor2000 · Moalboal, Philippines · March 20191 / 4
01

Overview

Found in pairs, anchored by their tails, over kelp beds and sponge gardens, of coral reefs, or amongst floating Sargassum rafts.
They feed on zooplankton, by sucking it into their mouths whole!

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

Pattern
blotches
Body shape
skin tags
Head & Mouth
star eye
Behaviour
pairs

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Central Pacific
  • Country only · 4
LIVES IN

Found in pairs, anchored by their tails, over kelp beds and sponge gardens, of coral reefs, or amongst floating Sargassum rafts.

04

Adult photos 4

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 comes Cantor, 1849

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Pipefishes-Seahorses (Syngnathidae)