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Coleman's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus colemani) — Syngnathidae

Coleman's pygmy seahorse

Hippocampus colemani
Family: Syngnathidae

The Coleman's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus colemani) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 3 cm.

Length
2.7 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–12.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Coleman's pygmy seahorse is a seahorse (Syngnathidae) from the southwest Pacific. The species grows to about 2.7 cm and has an upright body armoured in bony rings with a horse-like head, a prehensile tail and a tubular snout. This tiny seahorse lives hidden among seagrass and algae on shallow sand flats. It swims slowly and clings with its tail to weed, coral or seagrass and sucks in minute crustaceans. The male carries the eggs in a pouch. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Coleman's pygmy seahorse?

The Coleman's pygmy seahorse has an irregular in shape body and is mainly yellow-gold.

Where does the Coleman's pygmy seahorse live?

The Coleman's pygmy seahorse lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Coleman's pygmy seahorse get?

The Coleman's pygmy seahorse grows to a maximum of about 3 cm.

Is the Coleman's pygmy seahorse dangerous to humans?

No, the Coleman's pygmy seahorse is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Colemans dwergzeepaardje sourced
English name
Coleman's pygmy seahorse sourced
Scientific name
Hippocampus colemani
Family
Syngnathidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
2.7 verified
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
12.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Hippocampus

More from the family Syngnathidae

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