Walea pygmy seahorse
📖 Overview
Found in association with the soft coral Nephtea, but has also been observed swimming lengthy distances from one coral to the next (Ref 90102).
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 12. This species is distinguished by the following characters: size extremely small (height 1.68 cm, 1.78 cm SL); trunks rings 12; tail elongate, 32 tail rings; D 12; pectoral fin rays 9; no anal fin (at least in one sex); apparently eggs brooded within trunk; medium length snout which lacks a bulbous tip; coronet raised and angular; fused gill openings on midline behind the coronet supported by raised cleithral girdle; enlarged knob-like structures on head and trunk; paired laterally directed knob-like structures and each with short fleshy filament on superior trunk ridge of the fifth trunk ring; last 28 tail rings each with small paired knobs on inferior tail ridge, fifth, ninth and twelfth tail rings with bilaterally paired enlarged knob-like structures on superior tail ridges. Colouration: pale pinkish to yellowish with red to brown blotches, radiating bands from eye; body protuberances are white, appearing as white spots .: other; Cross section: angular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Walea pygmy seahorse is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Walea pygmy seahorse is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Male carries the eggs in a brood pouch .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; benthopelagic; non-migratory; depth range 5 - 20 m . Tropical Central Pacific: Indonesia.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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