This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the functionality of our site. For more detailed information about the types of cookies we use and how we protect your privacy, please visit our Privacy Information page.

×

Cookie Settings

This website uses different types of cookies to enhance your experience. Please select your preferences below:

Hippocampus breviceps
Hippocampus breviceps Peters, 1869
Shorthead seahorse
Hippocampus breviceps
photo by Good, P.

Family:  Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Syngnathinae
Max. size:  15 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 15 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: endemic to south west Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19-23; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 4-4. Description: (based on 40 specimens): Adult height: 4.5-8.0 cm. Rings: 11 + 40 (39-43). Snout length: 3.0 (2.4-3.5). Dorsal fin rays: 20-21 (19-23) covering 3+1 rings. Pectoral fin rays: 14-15 (13-15). Coronet: tall, columnar or knob-like. Spines: irregularly developed, some very low, others very prominent rounded tubercles. Other distinctive characters: with or without mane of thick skin fronds on the head and neck region; mature males have prominent brood pouch. Color pattern: purplish brown or yellowish or reddish; numerous dark-margined ocelli (white spots); often with dark spots or patches, especially on head; ventral surface of tail with paler transverse stripes.
Biology:  Adults inhabit inshore waters (Ref. 7300). Occur in small to large aggregations in weed patches attached to rocks on sand, mostly in Sargassum weeds (Ref. 9002). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128812.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 August 2016 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.