Lifespan, longevity, and ageing
provided by AnAge articles
Maximum longevity: 6 years (captivity)
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- Joao Pedro de Magalhaes
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- de Magalhaes, J. P.
Biology
provided by Arkive
While information on the biology of this particular species is lacking, it is likely to be similar to that of other seahorses (Hippocampus species). Seahorses are ambush predators that wait in the water until a prey, such as a small crustacean, tiny, young fish, or other invertebrate, passes close by its mouth. With a rapid intake of water, the seahorse sucks the prey up into its long snout (7).
The most distinctive and arguably the most interesting feature of seahorse biology is the manner in which they reproduce. During mating, which in the maned seahorse takes place between March and October (2), the female deposits a clutch of eggs into a pouch in the male's tail, where they are fertilised by the male. The male then seals the pouch shut, enclosing the embryos in a protective environment in which the developing seahorses are supplied with oxygen through a network of capillaries (7). After a gestation period of three to five weeks the male enters labour (2), which lasts for hours as the male actively forces the young out of the pouch. Immediately after birth, the young seahorses are independent and receive no further care from either parent (7). The maned seahorse has been reported to produce broods of up to 581 young (2).
Conservation
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As with all Hippocampus species, the maned seahorse is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning that any trade in this species should be carefully monitored (3). It has been recommended that further research on the biology, ecology, abundance and distribution of this cryptic species is required (1); this would enable its current status to be determined and further conservation measures could be implemented if necessary.
Description
provided by Arkive
The maned seahorse is a particularly striking species of seahorse, named after the prominent fleshy spines that run down the back of the neck, giving the appearance of a 'mane' (4). The colour of the maned seahorse ranges from greenish-yellow to reddish brown, often mimicking the colour of the surrounding environment (4), providing this small fish with valuable camouflage. The body is also often patterned with various spots and blotches (2) (5). Like other seahorses, the maned seahorse has a long snout and a prehensile tail that can curl around to grip any object in the water (4) (6).
Habitat
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The maned seahorse inhabits shallow waters, down to a depth of 12 metres, in areas of sea weed or seagrass (2) (5). It is thought to spend winter in rocky areas in deeper waters (2).
Range
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This eastern Atlantic species can be found in European waters from the Netherlands, south to Portugal and the Mediterranean. It may also occur in the Suez Canal (1).
Status
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Classified as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1) and listed on Appendix II of CITES (3).
Threats
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This fascinating seahorse is caught both intentionally and accidentally in Portugal, where it is dried and sold for curios, and is also known to be captured incidentally in Italy, France, Spain and Croatia (1). The maned seahorse is also caught live for aquariums and the pet trade (2). While the extent to which this trade impacts populations of the maned seahorse is not known, such exploitation is likely to pose a threat (1). The maned seahorse's preference for shallow habitats also makes it highly vulnerable to habitat degradation; shallow, coastal habitats are particularly susceptible to the negative impacts of human activities (1).
Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
Description (based on 46 specimens): Adult height: 8.5-18.0cm. Rings: 11 + 37-39 (35-40). Snout length: 2.3-2.8 in head length. Dorsal fin rays: 19-20 (17-20) covering 2+1 rings. Pectoral fin rays: 16-18. Coronet: small but distinct, with 5 rounded knobs or blunt points; horizontal plate in front of coronet as high as coronet itself, with a more or less prominent spine at its front edge; coronet not joined smoothly to neck. Spines: medium to well-developed with blunt tips. Other distinctive characters: prominent rounded eye spines; often with a mane of thick skin fronds on neck and head. Color pattern: from dark green to brown (Refs. 52034, 89230); prominent white spots on body (often with a dark ring around them) which tend to coalesce into horizontal wavy lines103; may be variously mottled or with pale âsaddlesâ across dorsolateral surface.
Life Cycle
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Ovoviviparous. During the mating season, mature males and females have been observed to change hue, i.e., become brighter, when courting (Refs. 52034, 89259). Female deposits her eggs on the brood pouch of the male which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Gestation usually lasts 21 days (Ref. 89322) and brood sizes up to 581 have been reported (Refs. 53712, 79902, 89322). Young are expelled from the pouch measuring 1.5 cm after 3 weeks of incubation. Size at birth ranges from 0.6-1.4 cm length (Ref. 79902). Newly hatched young are planktonic for at least 8 weeks (Ref. 53712).
Morphology
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Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 1720
Trophic Strategy
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Visual and sedentary ambush predator, waiting for small crustaceans and benthic larvae to approach (Ref. 89230 ). Has the ability to change its colour to blend better with its surroundings. This likely plays a role in its feeding strategy and also in predator avoidance (Ref. 52034). Algae were found to be the fourth most common item in the stomachs (Ref. 83361). However there is some speculation that seahorses in general do not feed on algae and that plant material in stomachs of seahorses is probably ingested while feeding on other prey (Ref. 52034).
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Commonly referred to as Hippocampus ramulosus. Occurs mostly in shallow inshore waters including littoral lagoons (Ref. 9937) among algae and eel grass (Zostera or Posidonia), or among rocks and in gravel bottoms (Ref. 52034). Juveniles were observed to recruit to vegetated habitats at 8.8- 10.4 cm length (Ref. 79902). Adults (from 12.5 cm length) appear to maintain very restricted home ranges (19.9 ± 12.4 m2) over multiple years making limited daily movements. (Ref. 79902). May move to deeper waters during winter (Ref. 53712). Like other seahorse species, adult dispersals over large distances is probably caused by strong wave action and currents during storms or when it anchors itself to floating debris (Ref. 52034). Is thought to live for 4-7 years (Ref. 79902). Because of its early age at maturity, rapid growth rate, short generation time and multiple breeding cycles during each spawning season, resilience is thought to be high (Ref. 88171). However, in tropical areas where seagrass beds are regularly exploited for other species of seahorses for the aquarium trade, traditional medicine, etc., populations have been quickly eradicated (Ref. 89253). Can be maintained in an aquarium environment if trained to feed on dead animals (Ref. 88171). Length type OT refers to height (= TL - head length), Ref. 30915.
- Recorder
- Christine Papasissi
Importance
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fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: unknown; price reliability:
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- Christine Papasissi
Long-snouted seahorse
provided by wikipedia EN
Hippocampus guttulatus, commonly known as the long-snouted seahorse and in Great Britain as the spiny seahorse,[4] is a marine fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae, native from the northeast Atlantic, including the Mediterranean.
Synonyms
H. hippocampus microstephanus Slastenenko 1937; H. hippocampus microcoronatus Slastenenko 1938; H. guttulatus multiannularis Ginsburg 1937; H biscuspis Kaup 1856.
Description
The long-snouted seahorse is a small-sized fish that can reach a maximum length of 21.5 cm (8+1⁄2 in), but the average size is more or less 12 cm (5 in).[5][6] The body is slender, the snout is long and the tail is prehensile. Its head and dorsal ridge have often some more or less long and numerous dermal filaments which can be simple or bifid. Its color ranges from dark green to different variants of brown to yellow, and the body is often speckled with small white dots.[7]
Distribution and habitat
The long-snouted seahorse is widespread throughout the temperate waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean from the south coast of the United Kingdom to the Netherlands and south to Morocco, including the Canary Islands, the Azores and Madeira, and the Mediterranean Sea.[6][8][9][1] Along the south coast of England and south-west Wales at depths of 1-20 , specially in eelgrass meadows, clinging by the tail or swimming upright.[10]
The longsnout seahorse ranges from black to yellow, red, orange and brown with multiple white dots usually on the tail.
This seahorse likes shallow coastal waters from 1 to 20 m (3 to 66 ft) deep.[11] It occurs close by Posidonia and eelgrass meadows or in mixed habitat with sandy bottom and rocks with algae.[6][12][11]
Biology
The long-snouted seahorse has a carnivorous diet and feeds on small crustaceans, larvae, fish eggs and other planktonic organisms.[6] It is ovoviviparous and it is the male who broods the eggs in its ventral brood pouch. The latter includes villi rich in capillaries that surround each fertilized egg, creating a sort of placenta supplying the embryos. When fully grown, pups will be expelled from the pocket and mature in complete autonomy. Many seahorse species are monogamous as mating occurs between the same two partners in one breeding season. However, the mating habits for H. guttulatus are unknown.[13] A interesting aspect of seahorse coloration is the ability to rapidly transform color patterns to blend with their immediate surroundings. They swim upright and avoid predators by mimicking the colour of underwater plants.
Conservation status
The long-snouted seahorse is relatively rare, and limited data exist on its population and about the volume and the impact of trade for traditional Chinese medicine and for the aquarium. The species is therefore considered as "Data Deficient" on the IUCN Red List.[14][1] Internationally, it is also listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This means that it is on the list of species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but for which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.[1][15]
See also
References
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^ a b c d Pollom, R. (2017). "Hippocampus guttulatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T41006A67617766. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T41006A67617766.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
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^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
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^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2018). "Hippocampus guttulatus" in FishBase. February 2018 version.
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^ "Seahorse Facts". The Seahorse Trust.
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^ Curtis, J.M.R. and A.C.J. Vincent, 2006. Life history of an unusual marine fish: survival, growth and movement patterns of Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier 1829. J. Fish Biol. 68:707-733.
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^ a b c d Ader, Denis; Barrabes, Michel; Huet, Sylvie (2014). "Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier, 1829" (in French). DORIS.
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^ "Hippocampus guttulatus Hippocampe moucheté" (in French). cotebleue. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
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^ Dawson, C.E., 1990. Syngnathidae. p. 658-664. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2.
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^ Lourie, S.A., S.J. Foster, E.W.T. Cooper and A.C.J. Vincent, 2004. A guide to the identification of seahorses. Project Seahorse and TRAFFIC North America. Washington D.C. (University of British Columbia and World Wildlife Fund): 114 p.
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^ Jarvis, Dr Peter (2020-01-13). The Pelagic Dictionary of Natural History of the British Isles: Descriptions of all Species with a Common Name. Pelagic Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-78427-196-1.
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^ a b Foster, S.J. and A.C.J. Vincent, 2004. Life history and ecology of seahorses: implications for conservation and management. J. Fish Biol. 65:1-61.
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^ Lelong, P., 1995. Hippocampe moucheté, Hippocampus ramolosus. Océanorama (Institut Océanographique Paul Ricard) No. 24, June 1995, p. 19-20.
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^ Planas, Miquel; Chamorro, Alexandro; Quintas, Patricia; Vilar, Antonio (1 October 2008). "Establishment and maintenance of threatened long-snouted seahorse, Hippocampus guttulatus, broodstock in captivity". Aquaculture. 283 (1): 19–28. doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2008.06.023. hdl:10261/41495.
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^ Pollom, R. (2017). "Hippocampus guttulatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T41006A67617766. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T41006A67617766.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
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^ "Long-snouted Seahorse". CITES. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
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Long-snouted seahorse: Brief Summary
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Hippocampus guttulatus, commonly known as the long-snouted seahorse and in Great Britain as the spiny seahorse, is a marine fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae, native from the northeast Atlantic, including the Mediterranean.
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