Denise's Pygmy Seahorse

Description:

Denise's pygmy seahorse is a species of fish in the Syngnathidae family. Originally described from Indonesia, Hippocampus denise has also been recorded from Vanuatu, Palau, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, the Philippines, as well as off southern Japan, northern Australia and New Caledonia. Pygmy seahorses are among the most well-camouflaged species in the oceans, being very difficult to spot amongst the gorgonian coral they live in. (This is probably why divers / underwater photographers consider finding one a significant event.) Hippocampus denise is tiny, growing only to a total length of 1.5cm. It is orange and resembles the Hippocampus bargibanti, though its tubercles are less distinct. Some individuals have more well-developed tubercles and are darker in color. Males and females differ significantly in body shape.

Habitat:

Its natural habitat is coral reefs. They are usually solitary, though they may be found in pairs or small groups on their host gorgonians, usually colonies of Annella reticulata, Muricella or Echinogorgia, in depths of up to 84m.

Notes:

Our dive group spotted this pygmy seahorse on a wall at a depth of about 20m. The last photo is of a different pygmy seahorse, but was taken on the same dive, but at a shallower depth: about 12m.