Research
Seahorses: the mystery of paternity
Seahorses are one of the most endangered species in our oceans, owing
mainly to their popularity for use in traditional Chinese medicine and
the degradation of their natural habitat.
Added to this is the fact that the mortality rate among baby seahorses
is very high. However, the adults that do make it are able to develop
thousands of new seahorses.
The reproductive process of the seahorse is particularly unusual. After
the pair goes through a series of courtship rituals, the female produces
her eggs and deposits them in the male's brood pouch, where he fertilizes
them and lets them grow for three to four weeks.
For the past few years the Donostia-San Sebastián Aquarium has
been involved in a seahorse reproduction and research programme aimed
at promoting the preservation of the species.
Is that a fish?
Yes -although the shape of this creature is unmistakable, seahorses and
needelfish are indeed fishes.
Seahorses swim in an upright position, propelled by the dorsal fin on
their backs. Their small pectoral fins help them to move sideways. Their
tails curl around seaweed to anchor them in place. This keeps them from
being carried off by the tide and helps them hide from their enemies.
Needlefish, much like their cousin the seahorse, also swim by using dorsal
fins.
Their long bodies make it easy for them to camouflage themselves, hiding
among the blades of sea grasses. Also like their curled-up cousin, needlefish
swim and rest in an upright position, making them easier to see.
Although they seem extremely weak and fragile, these fish have a hard
external covering which protects them, while also limiting their movements.
What we should know about seahorses...
Seahorses, known the world over for their curious shape, were first classified
by Baron Georges Cuvier in 1829.
Seahorses belong to the family Syngnathidae, from the Greek words "syn"
meaning fused and "gnathus" meaning jaws.
The seahorse we can see in the Aquarium is the short-snouted seahorse
(Hippocampus hippocampus), found throughout the Mediterranean and the
Black Sea, and in the nearby waters of the Atlantic, including our coast.
There are over 350 species of seahorses and similar types of fish, including
needlefish and pipefish, each with its own peculiarities.
Basque: Itsas Zaldia
Catalonian: Cavallet de Mar
Portuguese: Cavalo Marino
French: Cheval Marin
English: Sea Horse
German: Langschnäuziges Seepferdchen
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