Characteristics

Seahorse Features and Characteristics

It would be challenging to find marine creatures more intriguing than seahorses.

Their movement underwater and unique reproductive behavior fascinates and amazes most animal lovers.

There are more than 50 individual Seahorse species on our planet.

They differ considerably in size, shape, and appearance but curiously they all share some common seahorse characteristics.

We have selected seven of the most amazing and mind-blowing facts that characterize all seahorses.

6 Amazing Seahorse Characteristics

1. Male Seahorses Carry The Eggs

The reproductive method of seahorse procreation is vastly different than that of most other animal species. Males take care of the offspring from fertilization until they are born, in a unique way. The male has a pouch on his lower abdomen.

The female deposits the eggs into the male's reproductive pouch when they mate. The advantage is that she can start to produce more eggs and immediately prepare for another mating session.

The male regularly releases more than 1,000 fully formed baby seahorses from his abdomen each time as they are hatch.

2. Seahorses Are Fish

Seahorses appear to resemble equine animals than a typical fish, but they have several features that characterize them in the fish classification. They control their buoyancy using a swim bladder.

They breathe through gills and all seahorses use fins for propulsion through water. They also have pectoral fins to assist their directional movement.

3. Seahorses eat like a Horse

Seahorses like to eat regularly even though they do not have teeth. They do not have a stomach which means their food passes straight through them and their over-active digestive process means they must eat almost continually to stay alive.

They feed on copepods, tiny fish, plankton, and brine shrimp and in huge quantities. Facts suggest that they eat around 3,000 brine shrimp daily.

4. Seahorses Swim Upright

Seahorses are not good sea swimmers. Uniquely, they swim in an upright position which is not efficient and very tiring. During strong currents and sea storms they avoid death by anchoring their prehensile tail to coral or sea grass.

This keeps them stable allowing them to feed and survive. They also use their tail as a weapon when fighting over territory or partners. Yet somewhat affectionately, pairs of seahorses swim together linking tails when the battle is over.

5. Seahorses Are Ferocious Deadly Killers

Try to name the most ferocious marine creature that has a 90% success rate of killing and eating its intended prey. You are likely to think of deadly stealth animals with huge razor-sharp snarling teeth.

Despite seahorse's cute appearance and unassuming demeanor, they are actually one of nature's most proficient killing machines. In fact, on a scale of success rate, the seahorse is the deadliest predator in the water.

6. Predators of Seahorses

Seahorses do not have many aquatic predators to fear. In fact, crabs are one of few marine creatures that can digest seahorse's bony exoskeletons.

Possibly the biggest threat to their existence is humanity. Humans harvest seahorses at unsustainable survival rates in many areas of the world.

Seahorses |> Overview |> Seahorse Feeding on Copepods |> Deadly Seahorse Video [32s] |> Copepod Crustaceans |

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