The scientific name of the seahorse is Hippocampus sp. , comes from the Greek hippos which means horse and kampos , sea monster, although it is not necessary to observe them much to realize that seahorses are not, by far, monsters On the contrary, they are incredibly beautiful and peaceful animals, although very territorial.Especially the male when he carries the eggs inside.It is for this fact that, in Animals and Pets Online, we want to tell you the reproduction of the seahorse.
Characteristics of the seahorse
Seahorses are marine fish belonging to the Syngnathidae family, next to the needlefish.They are very rare animals and each of their characteristics seems to be almost unique in these beautiful animals.
First, they have the jaws fused into one, that is, the upper and lower jaw are glued, hence it has a mouth shaped like a "trumpet." This characteristic does not prevent it from being a voracious predator.It feeds on small Crustaceans that are part of the zooplankton.To be able to hunt them, their eyes move independently, like those of a chameleon, so they can visualize their prey well, since they are animals with little mobility or, better said, bad swimmers.
Despite being a fish, they do not have scales, instead, their body is covered with plaques.They have a dorsal fin, which is what drives them to move in an upright position, something exclusive to seahorses.
Seahorses have to feed constantly, because they have no stomach and the food is digested quickly.The breathing of the seahorse is like the breathing of the fish, through gills.Finally, with respect to the reproduction of the seahorse, it is the male who carries and cares of the eggs in development, instead of the female.
Fertilization of the seahorse
Before fertilization, each couple of seahorses spend several days immersed in a dance ritual as a courtship.They are not monogamous animals, they continually change partners.To distinguish the male from the female, we will look in the belly, the one of the males has a soft and bulky aspect, suitable for the function that it performs, instead, that of the female is massacred and pointed.
After the courtship, during the copulation, both parents join their sewers and the female introduces around 1,500 unfertilized eggs into the male, which will be fertilized by the male in the interior of this one.Unlike other marine animals, the seahorse has an internal fertilization, the eggs are fertilized once they are inside the male.
How are seahorses born?
After 45 days of gestation, the male, through muscle contractions that agitate his entire body, expels fully formed offspring.It may take some time for it to occur the birth of all seahorses waiting inside.After being born, the little ones are abandoned by the father as soon as they go outside.
As a curiosity we can point out that Very few individuals reach adulthood, hence the female produces so many eggs.
Seahorse habitat
Seahorses are marine animals of warm waters, such as tropical seas.They inhabit mainly the waters surrounding the American continent.They prefer shallow waters, with a lot of vegetation and places to hide, since they do not possess no active anti-predatory mechanism, only camouflage itself with its surroundings.Some species of seahorse are even able to change color.Others have extensions in their body that resemble algae.
The Coral reefs , mangroves and other types of wetlands, are the ideal place for these animals, the problem is that wetlands are being threatened worldwide, since 1,900, 64% of wetlands have disappeared.The waters in which they live have little movement, if a seahorse ends up in the open sea it is very likely that will die of exhaustion .
Examples of seahorses
There are around 40 species of seahorses, all marine species, none of freshwater.Some of these species are:
- Common seahorse ( Hippocampus hippocampus )
- Great seahorse ( Hippocampus kelloggi )
- Long-nosed seahorse ( Hipocampus reidi )
- Lined seahorse ( Hippocampus erectus )
- Japanese seahorse ( Hippocampus mohnikei )
- Sindo seahorse ( Hippocampus sindonis )
- Giant seahorse ( Hippocampus ingens )
- White seahorse ( Hippocampus whitei )
- Three point seahorse ( Hippocampus trimaculatus )
- Barbour seahorse ( Hippocampus barbouri )
- Patagonian Seahorse ( Patagonian Hippocampus )
- West African Seahorse ( Hippocampus algiricus )
- Face seahorse flat ( Hippocampus planifrons )
If you wish to read more articles similar to Reproduction of the seahorse , we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.
Bibliography
- Cabrera, A.(2010).Reproduction and lifting of the seahorse. Expeditio , 2 , 19-24.
- Otero-Ferrer, F., Molina-Dominguez, L., Socorro Cruz, JA, Herrera-Perez, R., Fernandez-Palacios, H.,&Amp; Izquierdo, M.(2009 ).Effect of misidaceans on the quality of laying on the seahorse, Hippocampus hippocampus (Linnaeus, 1758).
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