Today we are going to talk about one of the most interesting sea creatures in this world. Its about Seahorse. These animals have a really striking and unusual appearance that makes them different from other creatures that live in the seas and oceans. They are quite attractive and are loved by people due to their friendly appearance. The name of seahorse is due to the great resemblance of its face to that of a horse.
If you want to know all the biology and characteristics of the seahorse, here we tell you everything 🙂
Key features
Seahorses have a fairly prominent snout that is used to eat better. It is one of the characteristics that make them more easily recognized. Although they are not good swimmers, they can survive well in some marine environments. They can almost always be seen resting and swimming adrift since they tire quite quickly from swimming.
Their main food is made up of a great variety de peces smaller than them and other invertebrates. They can be found in all the seas and oceans of the world, although always in those areas with less depth. Since they are not good swimmers, they will always be in areas with less depth and where there may be a lower probability of being attacked by predators.
They tend to blend in with the environment to be able to camouflage themselves from possible predators and that is why it is difficult to see them. They prefer to get in warmer waters. It's rare to be able to spot a seahorse directly unless you're diving and they come to your position. The smallest species of these animals are found between the inch only. In contrast, the largest specimens can reach up to 8 inches, which is why they are considered quite small animals.
Along the seas and oceans up to 40 species of seahorses have been detected, although they retain common characteristics between them. There are some notable differences that serve to classify it by species. Some species have the ability to change color to better blend in with the environment. It is a chameleon-like ability.
The fossils found of seahorses are quite rare, but the oldest they point to times up to 3 million years in the past. Therefore, they are creatures that have been evolving and living here for quite a long time.
Lifestyle
Scientists think that these animals have been able to evolve to survive in shallow waters thanks to their high capacity to mix with the environment. They do not stand out for their great ability to swim, so, without a predator spotting them, they will be easily captured. Thus, they depend a lot on the ability to blend in with the different colors of the environment.
Male seahorses carry the eggs where the young will hatch. This is something completely different from what you are used to seeing in nature. Normally it is the females that carry the eggs from which the young will hatch. In this case, the male could be said to be "pregnant" and it is he who carries the young in his womb. Their mating is quite complex as well as their entire reproduction process.
You cannot have a seahorse as a pet, since they are not animals that are adapted to captivity. Many of them die from the high levels of stress caused by being in captivity for a long time. These same conditions make them sick more quickly.
There are many natural predators that seek out the seahorse for being an easy catch. Once the species has been spotted, it will be easy to capture it. Among the predators that threaten these animals we find stingrays, manta rays, crabs, penguins, etc. However, the climate is a more important predator than other animals. This is because environmental conditions are more important and are what cause the majority of adult specimens.
Seahorse threats
As we have mentioned, the climate is one of the predators that kills the most adults. This is because, being bad swimmers, they cannot withstand some of the harshest weather conditions such as rough waters. If a water is in continuous movement and causes stronger currents, it is impossible that with the poor ability to swim, the seahorse can survive it. They are exhausted swimming in a short time and have to rest. It is then when they are dragged and end up dying.
For this reason, the most normal thing is to find them in shallow waters where calm prevails over the most adverse climate. Another of the most frequent threats that kill these animals are commercial fishing nets. Fishing activity and different types of fishing cause thousands of seahorses to die each year.
However, there are many benefits that seahorses have in natural ecosystems. One of its functions is to control other populations of small fish or invertebrates. Given the greater death of these animals in recent years, the populations they controlled are growing enormously and imbalances are being caused in these environments.
Biology and curiosities
Many people wonder how to see seahorses. Being well camouflaged, they hide easily and are difficult to detect. So as not to disturb them in their natural environment, it is best to go to an aquarium where they can be seen in captivity but in conditions that can survive well. A home aquarium is not the same as a fish tank than the size of commercial aquariums.
Among some of the curiosities of these animals we find that they are capable of producing some sounds such as clicks during feeding and courtship. These clicks are caused by two parts of your skull moving against each other. Seahorses do not have a set average lifespan. Normally the smallest species live one year and an average of 3 to 5 years the largest.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the seahorse.