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Hippocampus bargibanti
The pygmy seahorses comprise several species of tiny seahorse in the syngnathid family or Syngnathidae (seahorses and pipefish). Family Syngnathidae is part of order Syngnathiformes, which contains fishes with fused jaws that suck food into tubular mouths. They are found in Southeast Asia in the Coral Triangle area. They are some of the smallest seahorse species in the world, typically measuring less than 2 centimetres (0.79 in) in height. The first pygmy seahorse known to science was Hippocampus bargibanti. At least six more species were named after 2000. The first species discovered lives exclusively on fan corals and matches their colour and appearance. So effective is pygmy seahorse camouflage that it was discovered only when a host gorgonian was being examined in a laboratory. Other species live on soft corals or are free-ranging among seagrasses and algae.[3]
Spotted on May 7, 2013
Submitted on Feb 23, 2014
7 Comments
Thanks, @Mona & @patty :)
Great spotting Albert!!! =)
Amazing !!
Thanks, @Neil.
Just so happen I am also a Dive Guide/Spotter, so am familiar with where they lives. If not disturbed, they live their whole life in the same sea fan, so its not too difficult to locate them although sometimes, its still difficult to find them in the big sea fan (1 to 1.5 meters width/height).
The time when it is most difficult to 'locate' them is when the polyps of the sea fans opens up during feeding.
Now that is quite amazing, and it's staggering to think that it's so small. Well camouflaged... and really well spotted. Nice :-)
Yes, @Chun, they are very small and very well camouflage.
Can be very difficult to spot them if you are not familiar :p
That is one tiny seahorse.