The Big-Belly Seahorse

Big-Belly Seahorse - Hippocampus abdominalis

The overall body design of the Big-Belly Seahorse makes them one that the Chinese often use for making herbs and medicines. Millions of these seahorses are used annually for such purposes. They are also used to make jewelry and various forms of art. Commercial fishing for them continues to grow and that is putting the number of them in the wild at risk.

This is one of the largest types of seahorses in the world, as they average about 12 inches in length. They have a head with a snout that tips forward more so than other species. They also have a belly that is very wide and round. The tail is coiled and it is also prehensile.

The males feature smooth areas on the abdomen and the females have a pointed region here. The difference is due to the fact that the males are going to use that pouch for carrying the eggs until the young are born. The males also feature a longer tail and a snout that is wider than the females.

Distribution

The coastal areas of New Zealand and Australia are where you will find this species of seahorse living. They tend to stay close to large rocks, around coral reefs, and close to the seaweed that drifts around their natural habitat. They live in areas of water that range in temperature from 70 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They can live in warmer waters but they don’t fair well at all if it is cooler.

(source:google/http://www.seahorseworlds.com/)