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 debelius
Hippocampus debelius Gomon & Kuiter, 2009
Softcoral seahorse
Hippocampus debelius
photo by van Beeck, D.

Family:  Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Syngnathinae
Max. size:  2.37 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 15 - 30 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-14; Anal soft rays: 4-4. This species is distinguished by the following characters: very small (height 1.92 cm, 2.37 cm SL); trunk rings 10; tail rings 28; well ossified inferior and ventral trunk ridges; D 14; pectoral fin rays 10-11; anal fin rays 4; in males, brooding area posterior to anal fin; snout medium length with a bulbous tip; coronet low and angular; gill opening separate, midway between pectoral fin base and dorsal midline; head, trunk and tail prominent, long and slender spines; no filaments nor cirrhi. Colouration: white background, mostly obscured by numerous close-set, brown lengthwise stripes or striations; the tips of many of the spines dark brown to black; anterior trunk spines also with dark band centrally (Ref. 80667).
Biology:  This species occurs at moderate depths. Some corals with which this species associates with also occur in very shallow shaded areas such as below jetties. It may eventually be found inshore (Ref. 80667).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 27 November 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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 Not for publication.