The Yellow Seahorse

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Also known as the "Common Seahorse," this species is native to the Indo-Pacific.

#   The Yellow Seahorse can reach a length of 17-30cm.

#   The colouration is often dark with a grainy texture but can also be yellow, cream or reddish with blotches and numerous small dark spots.

#   This seahorse has a carnivorous diet and feeds on small crustaceans and other planktonic organisms.

#   It is the male who broods the eggs in its ventral brood pouch (like all seahorse species). The young (called pups) exit the pouch once full grown, and from then on live antonomously.

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Dwarf Seahorse

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The Dwarf Seahorse is the slowest moving fish, with a ton speed of about 5 feet per hour.

#   This seahorse is most often white in colour but can range from tan, brown, yellow and green. In the wild, it often has small skin growth called 'cirri' that resemble algae.

#   The Dwarf seahorse grows to an average length of 2-2.5cm with a maximum length of 5cm.

#   This seahorse is well camouflaged, the colour usually matching the gorgonian on which it is typically found. This seahorse can change colour.

#   The Dwarf seahorse is a 'lie-in-wait' predator, feeding on prey of a suitable size that comes within reach.

#   These seahorses are usually solitary or live in pairs.

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Short Snouted Seahorse

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This is the 2nd seahorse found in the UK waters.

#   Short Snouted Seahorses are found in shallow waters, often in estuaries or associated with seagrass meadows.

#   This seahorse has a short, upturned snout, less than 1/3 the length of the head. This seahorse does not have a mane and its colour varies from light brown to mottled purple.

#   In 2007, colonies of this species were discovered on the River Thames around London and Southend-On-Sea.

#   The short snouted seahorse are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

#   In 2010, London Zoo saw the birth of 918 baby seahorses.

#   These seahorses use their tails to anchor themselves to stems of plants and are able to camouflage very well.

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Long Snouted Seahorse

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One of 2 seahorses found in the UK, Long Snouted Seahorses are recognized by their longer snout and fleshy 'mane.'

#   Also known as the "Spiny Seahorse", this seahorse is recognized by the fleshy mane on its neck and back

#   They live in shallow coastal waters and are pretty poor swimmers, relying on their prehensile tail to cling onto seaweed and seagrass to stop from being swept away.

#   They don't have teeth and simply suck up their favourite prey of small shrimp and plankton.

#   The Long Snouted Seahorse is a small-sized fish that can reach a maximum length of 21.5cm but the average size is more or less 12cm.

#   Its colour ranges from dark green to different variants of brown and yellow, the body is often speckled with small white dots.

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Big-Belly Seahorse

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The Big-Belly Seahorse is one of the largest seahorse species in the world.

#   It is up to 35cm long and is the largest seahorse in Australia.

#   These seahorses have a forward-tilted, a long-snouted head, a distended but narrow pot belly and a long, coiled tail.

#   It swims using its dorsal fin with a vertical stance and when it's not swimming, it coils its prehensile tail around any suitable growth (ie seaweed).

#   These seahorses are found among algae, seagrasses and rocky reefs in shallow water. They usually inhabit waters less than 50m (160ft) deep, but have been found as deep as 104m (340ft).

#   In the wild, breeding can commence when the seahorse is about one year old. Courtship initiation involves a series of colour changes and postural displays.

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The Coral Reefs

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Oceans and reefs are some of our planet's most vibrant attractions.

In the Northern Red Sea, there appears to be a vast region of exceptionally hardy reefs which survive temperatures far exceeding present-day norms. In this reef system, we can learn lessons that can help protect other reefs. This area of the Ocean needs to be protected !

Sometimes called the "Rainforests of the Sea", shallow coral reefs form some of the Earth's most diverse ecosystems. These "Rainforests" provide a home for at least 25% of all marine species (including fish, mollusks, crustaceans and sponges).

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The SeaHorse

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Seahorses prefer to swim in pairs with their tails linked together.

# seahorses feed constantly on plankton and tiny fish

# the seahorse moves each eye independently, so that it can follow the activity of passing sea life without giving it's presence away

# there are about 40 known species of seahorse

# these sea creatures swim upright and avoid predators by mimicking the colour of underwater plants

# seahorses propel themselves by using a small fin on their back that flutters up to 35 times per second. Even smaller pectoral fins located near the back of the head are used for steering

# seahorses are monogamous and mate for life.

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