White's seahorse (Hippocampus whitei)

Scientific name: Hippocampus whitei Bleeker, 1855

White's seahorse (Hippocampus whitei)

The White's seahorse (Hippocampus whitei) is a marine fish of the family Syngnathidae.

Biology

In shallow, weedy inshore areas and Zostera seagrass beds; also on sponges. Also under jetties on holdfasts of kelp, and on other man-made structures such as shark nets. Diurnal and site faithful. Ovoviviparous. The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Hippocampus whitei
Family
Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses)
Order
Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and Seahorses)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
13.0
Common length
8.0
Depth range
1–46 m (3–151 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 46 m, usually 1 - 25 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Southwest Pacific: Solomon Islands and Australia. Records from southern Mozambique and Natal, South Africa are misidentifications of Hippocampus camelopardalis. 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)
Data deficient (DD)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming annual Fec

Sources

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

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