Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis)

Scientific name: Hippocampus capensis Boulenger, 1900

Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis)

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

Biology

Found in bays and estuaries among submerged vegetation; diurnal. Can tolerate salinities from 1-59 ppt. Ovoviviparous. The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail. Length type refers to Height (= from top of coronet to the tip of straightened tail).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Hippocampus capensis
Family
Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses)
Order
Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and Seahorses)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
12.1
Common length
7.0
Depth range
0–20 m (0–66 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 20 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Southeast Atlantic: endemic to South Africa. Hippocampus capensis has the smallest known range of any seahorse and was the first to be assessed as threatened on the IUCN Red List, in 1994. 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)
Endangered (EN) (B1+2c+3d)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Aquarium: commercial
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=1; Fec=7)

More other freshwater fish

See all other freshwater fish

Sources

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

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