Spotted seahorse (Hippocampus kuda)

Scientific name: Hippocampus kuda Bleeker, 1852

Spotted seahorse (Hippocampus kuda)

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

Biology

Inhabit seagrass and marine algae areas of estuaries and seaward reefs; also on steep mud slopes. Found in open water and attached to drifting Sargassum up to 20 km from shore. Adults in pairs. Benthic to pelagic. Feeds on zooplankton. Ovoviviparous. The males carry the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail. Not shown to be monogamous in the laboratory. Very popular aquarium fish. Highly valued species in traditional Chinese medicine. Has been reared in captivity.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Hippocampus kuda
Family
Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses)
Order
Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and Seahorses)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
30.0
Depth range
0–68 m (0–223 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 68 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Pakistan and India to southern Japan, Hawaii, and the Society Islands. This name is used for maybe 10 distinct species in the Indo-Pacific. 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
Uses
Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=0.6; Fec=20-1000)

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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