Spotted seahorse
📖 Overview
Inhabit seagrass and marine algae areas of estuaries and seaward reefs; also on steep mud slopes. Found in open water and attached to drifting Sargassum up to 20 km from shore. Adults in pairs . Benthic to pelagic . Feeds on zooplankton . Ovoviviparous . The males carry the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail . Not shown to be monogamous in the laboratory . Very popular aquarium fish. Highly valued species in traditional Chinese medicine . Has been reared in captivity .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 18; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 4. : other; Cross section: angular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Spotted seahorse is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
H. kuda are omnivores, feeding on minuscule living prey, such as larval fishes and zooplankton, via suction feeding. They are not strong swimmers. Predators of H. kuda include crabs, rays, tuna, and sea turtles, as well as humans.
🥚 Reproduction
There are 20 - 1000 larvae in incubating sacks; time of development is 20-28 days. The males carry the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 68 m , usually 0 - 8 m . Tropical; 39°N - 28°S, 32°E - 154°W north to Japan, south to Australia.
🌿 Ecology
zooplankton (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Common Sea Horse · Dull Seahorse · Estuarine seahorse · Sad Seahorse · Sea pony · Smooth Seahorse · Spotted seahorse · yellow seahorse |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | حصان البحر الاصفر · حصان البحر الحزين · حصان البحر الشائع · حصان البحر المنقط · فرس البحر المنقط |
| 🏳️Catalan | Cavallet de mar comú |
| 🌍CES | koníček kuda |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Plettet søhest |
| 🇩🇪German | Gelbes Seepferdchen · Gewöhnliches Seepferdchen · Krönchen-Seepferdchen |
| 🌍EST | Kuda merihobuke |
| 🇫🇷French | Cheval marin, Grand hippocampe · Hippocampe d'estuaire |
| 🌍HEB | סוסון כהה · סוסון-ים חלק |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Sárga csikóhal |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Cavalluccio d'estuario · Cavalluccio giallo · Cavalluccio maculato · Ippocampo d'estuario · Ippocampo giallo · Ippocampo maculato |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Kuroumiuma · クロウミウマ |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Cavalo-marinho-de-Singapura |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Жёлтый морской конёк |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Caballito de mar común |
| 🌍THA | ม้าน้ำดำ · ม้าน้ำมงกุฏสั้น |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 庫達海馬 · 海馬 · 管海馬 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hippocamphus kuda | Bleeker | 1852 | Synonym |
| Hippocampus aterrimus | Jordan & Snyder | 1902 | Synonym |
| Hippocampus chinensis | Basilewsky | 1855 | Synonym |
| Hippocampus hilonis | Jordan & Evermann | 1903 | Synonym |
| Hippocampus horai | Duncker | 1926 | Synonym |
| Hippocampus kuda multiannularis | Raj | 1941 | Synonym |
| Hippocampus melanospilos | Bleeker | 1854 | Synonym |
| Hippocampus moluccensis | Bleeker | 1852 | Synonym |
| Hippocampus novaehebudorum | Fowler | 1944 | Synonym |
| Hippocampus polytaenia | Bleeker | 1854 | Synonym |
| Hippocampus raji | Whitley | 1955 | Heterotypic |
| Hippocampus rhynchomacer | Duméril | 1870 | Synonym |
| Hippocampus taeniops | Fowler | 1904 | Synonym |
| Hippocampus taeniopterus | Bleeker | 1852 | Synonym |
| Hippocampus tristis | Castelnau | 1872 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 43 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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