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Seahorses range in size from 1.5 to 35 cm (0.6 to 13.8 in). [13] They are named for their equine appearance, with bent necks and long snouted heads and a distinctive trunk and tail. Although they are bony fish, they do not have scales, but rather thin skin stretched over a series of bony plates, which are arranged in rings throughout their bodies.
The fins help guide and propel the seahorse. Lined seahorses are weak swimmers; they swim in an erect position. In comparison to their fins, the lined seahorse's body is too large, another reason why they are poor swimmers. They do not swim for long periods of time, nor do they travel far distances, unless they are migrating. [11]
Male seahorses have a specialized ventral brood pouch to carry the embryos, male sea dragons attach the eggs to their tails, and male pipefish may do either, depending on their species. [4] The most fundamental difference between the different lineages of the family Syngnathidae is the location of male brood pouch. [5]
They have a prominent spine above each eye. They have snouts that are short and upturned. [9] Their snouts are about 1/3 of the length of their head. [10] Their dorsal fin has 16–18 rays with a dark stripe that runs parallel to the margin and provides propulsion. Their pectoral fins have 13–15 rays and are located below the gill openings.
Like other seahorses, the dwarf seahorse has a head angled at right angles to its body and swims upright using its dorsal fin to propel it and its pectoral fins to steer. It grows to an average length of 2 and 2.5 cm (0.8 and 1.0 in), with a maximum length of 5.0 cm (2.0 in).
H. mohnikei have completely developed dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins even as juveniles of 6.0 mm long. Juveniles 6.0–26.4 mm total length also have a tiny caudal fin with just two rays. [6] H. mohnikei reaches maturity at 55 mm and can reach a length of 80 mm. They start breeding in the season after birth, at six months to one year. [3]
Hippocampus kuda is a species of seahorse, also known as the common seahorse, estuary seahorse, yellow seahorse or spotted seahorse. The common name sea pony has been used for populations formerly treated as the separate species Hippocampus fuscus , now a synonym of H. kuda .
According to Guinness World Records 2009, Hippocampus zosterae (the dwarf seahorse) is the slowest moving fish, with a top speed of about 5 feet (150 cm) per hour. [21] They swim very poorly, rapidly fluttering a dorsal fin and using pectoral fins (located behind their eyes) to steer. Seahorses have no caudal fin.