Hedgehog seahorse (Hippocampus spinosissimus)

Scientific name: Hippocampus spinosissimus Weber, 1913

Hedgehog seahorse (Hippocampus spinosissimus)

The Hedgehog seahorse (Hippocampus spinosissimus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Syngnathidae.

Biology

Found in the continental shelf, on muddy or sandy bottoms and in coral reefs. Ovoviviparous. The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail. Length type refers to height (= TL - head length). Less desirable for traditional Chinese medicine, but use may increase with the rise in patent medicines.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Hippocampus spinosissimus
Family
Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses)
Order
Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and Seahorses)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
17.2
Depth range
70 m (230 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range ? - 70 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Sri Lanka to Taiwan and Australia. This species has often been misidentified as Hippocampus histrix. International trade is monitored through a licensing system (CITES II, since 5.15.04) and a minimum size of 10 cm applies.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Vulnerable (VU) (A4cd)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm=0.5-1)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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