Longsnout Seahorse, Hippocampus Reidi

Natural History
This slender seahorse grows to about seven inches long. Males are often bright orange and the females yellow; both may be covered in brown or white spots, and may turn pink or white during courtship. They are found in coral reefs and sea grass beds and occasionally in the midwater of the Atlantic from North Carolina to Florida, and from the Caribbean down to Brazil. Males can carry broods of up to 1,000 young in their pouches, with larger males carrying even more young.

Conservation
Of the thousands of longsnouts born in each brood, only one or two may live to become adults and raise broods of their own. In the past, that’s been enough to keep their populations healthy. But today, collectors take tons to dry and sell as souvenirs. The more that are taken, the fewer that are left to reproduce—putting longsnout populations in danger.

Cool Facts
As with other seahorses, when longsnout seahorses mate, the female deposits her eggs into a special pouch on the male’s belly. The pouch seals shut while he nurtures the developing eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the pouch opens and the male goes into labor—giving birth to his tiny young.

Animal Facts
Scientific Name: Hippocampus reidi
Habitat: Coral Reefs
Animal Type: Fishes
Diet: mysid shrimp and other small crustaceans
Size: to 6.8 inches (17.5 cm)
Range: east coast of the Americas from North Carolina to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Relatives: pipefish, seadragons; Family: Syngnathidae