Seahorses, Sea-dragons, and Pipefish Research

Sea Horse
Sea Dragon
Pipe-fish

Sea Horses:
Hippocampus is a genus of fish known as Seahorses (family Syngnathidae). They are found in temperate and tropical waters all over the world. Seahorses (which are not true horses) range in size from 16 mm (the recently discovered Hippocampus denise [1]) to 35 cm. They are notable for being one of only a few species where the males get pregnant. A seahorse pregnancy lasts approximately two to three weeks. Seahorses are also unusual among fishes for being monogamous. Seahorses reproduce in an unusual way: the male becomes pregnant. The mating pair entwines their tails and the female aligns a long tube called ovipositor with the male's pouch. The eggs move through the tube into the male's pouch where he then fertilizes them. The embryos will develop for between ten days and six weeks, depending on species and water conditions. When the male gives birth he pumps his tail until the baby seahorses emerge.

Sea Dragons:
The Leafy Sea Dragon (Phycodurus eques) is a marine fish related to the seahorse. These creatures are native to the waters around southern and western Australia and generally remain in shallow, temperate waters. Their name comes from their appearance, with long leaf-like protrusions coming from all over the body. These protrusions are not used for propulsion; they serve only as camouflage. Much like the seahorse, their name comes from a chance resemblance to a known (in this case mythical) creature. While not large by sea monster standards, they are very large for sea horses, growing at least 18 inches (45 cm). They feed on plankton, algae, and other small flotsam, and are not preyed upon by any species other than humans. Females deposit eggs on the tail of the male where they grow to maturity. They have become endangered through pollution and industrial runoff as well as collection by fascinated divers who are entranced by their unique appearance. In response to these dangers the Australian government has officially protected them.

Pipe-fish:
Pipefish (Syngnalhina), are small fishes, which with the Seahorses form a distinct family. Pipefish look like straight-bodied seahorses with tiny mouths. The name is derived from the peculiar form of their snout, which is like long tube, ending in narrow and small mouth, which opens upwards and is toothless. The body and tail are long and thin, snake-like. They have a highly modified skeleton formed into armored plating. This dermal skeleton has several longitudinal ridges, so that a vertical section through the body looks angular, not round or oval as in the majority of other fishes. A dorsal fin is always present, and is the principal (in some species, the only) organ of locomotion. The ventral fins are constantly absent, and the other fins may or may not be developed. The gill-openings are extremely small and placed near the upper posterior angle of the gill-cover. Most of the pipefishes are marine, only a few being fluviatile. Pipefishes are abundant on coasts of the tropical and temperate zones most species of pipefish are less than 20cm in length and generally inhabit sheltered areas in coral reefs, sea grass beds and sandy lagoons. They are very bad swimmers slowly moving through the water by means of the rapid movement of the dorsal fin. Their tail, even when provided with a caudal fin, is of no use in swimming, and not prehensile as in sea horses. There are approximately 200 species of pipefish.