Basic Information
Scientific classification
- Chinese name: Dwarf seahorse
- Scientific name: Hippocampus (including H. bargibanti, H. denise, etc.)
- Classification: Small fish
- Family: Syngnathidae Hippocampus Pygmy seahorse
Vital signs data
- Body length: approximately 1.4–2.7 cm
- Weight: Very small fish
- Lifespan: Approximately 1–3 years
Significant features
Miniaturization; male parenting; strong host dependence; extreme camouflage.
Distribution and Habitat
Indo-Pacific outer reef/cliff sea fan forests and soft coral communities, 10–40 m.
Appearance
Color and warts that match the host; tail attached.
Detailed introduction
The pygmy seahorse is a group of extremely small seahorses ( Hippocampus ) known for their extreme camouflage and male parenting, and they often live in symbiosis with sea fans/soft corals.
The pygmy seahorse, measuring about one centimeter in length, is also known as the dwarf seahorse. Its observed body colors include red, gray, yellow, and white, and it varies depending on the soft corals it inhabits. Different species may also exhibit mimicry based on their specific host corals, but all three species share the same "super-mini" size, with a maximum length not exceeding three centimeters. This tiny marine creature, which is not commercially viable, has driven the growth of the tourism market, making the pygmy seahorse craze in the diving tourism industry a remarkable phenomenon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How to find them? Look for individuals whose color/warts match the branching nodules of the coastal fan.
