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Interesting facts about seahorses. Interesting facts about the seahorse (15 photos) Keeping seahorses

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01/11/2017 at 21:34 Moscow time 5,788

The seahorse is a fish unique in nature, with interesting shape torso.

At first glance, it looks very similar to one of the most recognizable chess pieces.

There are more than 50 species of these creatures in the world, but only thirty-two species have been studied in detail.

In addition, anthropologists have made sensational conclusions based on the prehistoric fossil remains found; they say that in the past it was specifically a modified needle fish.

An interesting ability of these sea ​​creatures is that the male becomes the breeder of offspring. We will consider the process itself in detail a little later.

Appearance

The appearance and body structure of this species of fish are able to adapt to any environment. Once in an area that strongly reveals its appearance, it immediately changes the appearance of its color in a few minutes, like a chameleon, and merges with the underwater environment.





His body is endowed with many thorns different sizes, the ribbon-like leathery outgrowths that are present on its body are also capable of hiding it in sea ​​depths from the eyes of predators and potential victims.

There are at least two popular types these wonderful creatures. The dwarf pipit has a body length not exceeding 2.5 cm. It lives in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Malayan species of pipits is quite larger than its aforementioned counterpart, the length of its body can reach up to 25 centimeters.

The low mobility of this fish is ensured by its eyes, which have a remarkable ability. The eyeballs are able to move independently of each other, thereby increasing the horizons.

Range and habitat

This species is common in areas with subtropical climate from the coast of Indonesia to Australia. It also lives along the Atlantic coasts of Europe, North America and Africa. Little-studied species live in the waters Pacific Ocean closer to the shores of the USA.

Habitat

Overgrown shallow sea perfect place accommodation for this fish. It also actively inhabits swampy or sandy water surroundings.

Lifestyle

This fish leads a predominantly solitary and sedentary lifestyle, so as not to drift during high and low tides; it clings to algae or corals with its flexible and powerful tail.

It is worth noting that most of their lives they are in shallow water, on a slight current with a water temperature of at least +25. The current carries a huge amount of plankton necessary for nutrition. Movement in the water is carried out using the spinal fin, which carries out more than 30 strokes in one second.

Nutrition

His diet is very meager; the daily menu includes:

  • plankton;
  • small fish
  • crustaceans;
  • shrimps;

He himself becomes a victim of enemies very rarely, since he is a master of disguise. Thanks to this, the victim, without noticing the danger, approaches him, having a tubular snout, the horse is able to suck it in at a distance of three centimeters.

Enemies

Due to its anatomical structure of the skeleton, not every enemy is able to digest its numerous small but very strong bones.

The land crab is the single most dangerous and ruthless enemy for this type of fish.

Reproduction

The reverse distribution of roles between male and female makes this species even more mysterious. The breeding season in tropical warm waters can occur all year round, in the cold - in spring and summer.

During the mating season, the male makes sounds reminiscent of finger clicks so that her gaze falls on him. After a while, the female reciprocates and approaches him. Taking this opportunity, we would like to invite you to listen to our huge collection of sounds from the category: .

In special pocket, located under the male’s tail, the female throws in a huge amount of fertilized eggs, providing him with further care for the future offspring, and she disappears away to mate with other males.

The development time of eggs may vary depending on the water temperature. In warm water it is no more than 14 days, and in cold water 28 days. To feed the fry, the male secretes a special liquid into his sac.

When the offspring are mature, the male releases the fry, which can already swim, into the wild. Their number depends on the species, the minimum can be 50, the maximum more than 1000 individuals.

Many people wonder: why is the seahorse upright? We decided to look into it and answer this interesting question. .

The reason is this; The stabilizing swim bladder of this fish is located along the entire body and is divided by a septum separating top part bodies from the rest.

As a result, the head bladder turns out to be larger than the abdominal one; it is this arrangement of the bladder that provides the fish with a vertical position.

Red Book

Irreparable harm to the taxon is caused by fishing trawls, which destroy seabed along with the environment natural habitat marine organism.



Currently, all types of skates are included in the Red Book and are strictly protected by law. There are plenty of reasons for this, such as; While you are reading this post, illegal fishing for this exotic creature is underway off the coast of Malaysia. In these countries it is a delicacy and is very popular among tourists..

Lifespan

IN wildlife this interesting view fish can exist no more than 7 years.

Related species

Today, our hero’s closest relative is the stickleback fish.

  1. Some species of marine organisms are threatened with complete extinction.
  2. Swims while in an upright position.
  3. Souvenirs depicting this fish are actively purchased by tourists in East Asia.
  4. The liver and eyes of this fish are considered a delicacy; in fish restaurants, a serving of this dish can cost up to $1,000.
  5. The male himself is responsible for breeding the offspring.

Seahorse is a genus of small sea bony fish families pipefish order Acicularis. Number of species seahorses is about 50. The unusual shape of the skate's body resembles a chess piece of a knight. Numerous long spines and ribbon-like leathery outgrowths located on the skate’s body make it invisible among the algae and inaccessible to predators. Seahorses range in size from 2 to 30 cm, depending on the species to which a particular individual belongs. Interesting feature seahorse is that the male bears the offspring.

The taxonomy of the seahorse is very confusing due to the unique ability of these fish to change their appearance - color and even body shape. The closest relatives of seahorses are small fish - pipefish, which have much in common in the structure of the body with skates. However, the body shape and manner of movement in the water of sea “horses” is completely unusual.

The body of seahorses in water is located unconventionally for fish - vertically or diagonally. The reason for this is the relatively large swim bladder, most of which is located in the upper part of the seahorse's body. It is impossible to confuse these graceful and colorful fish, which look like jewelry or toys, with any inhabitant of the water element.

The body of a seahorse is not covered with scales, but with bony plates. Spiked armor protects them from danger. The armor is so strong that it is almost impossible to break even from a dried-up dead belly. However, in its shell it is so light and fast that it literally floats in the water, and its body shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow - from orange to bluish blue, from lemon yellow to fiery red. In terms of brightness of color, it is worthy to compare this fish with tropical birds and brightly colored coral reef fish.

These fish live in tropical and subtropical zones. Their range encircles the entire globe. Seahorses live in shallow waters among seagrass beds or among corals. These are sedentary and generally very sedentary fish. Typically, seahorses wrap their tail around a branch of coral or a tuft of sea grass and spend most of their time in this position. But large sea dragons do not know how to attach to vegetation. For short distances they swim holding their body vertically; if they have to leave the “home”, they can swim in an almost horizontal position. They swim slowly. In general, the character of these fish is surprisingly calm and meek; seahorses do not show aggression towards their fellow fish and other fish.

They feed on plankton. The smallest crustaceans they track, rolling their eyes funny. As soon as the prey approaches the miniature hunter, the seahorse puffs out its cheeks, creating negative pressure in the mouth and sucks up the crustacean like a vacuum cleaner. Despite the small size of the skates big fans eat and can indulge in gluttony for up to 10 hours a day.

Seahorses have only three small fins: the dorsal one helps to swim forward, and two gill fins maintain vertical balance and serve as a rudder.

In a moment of danger, seahorses can significantly accelerate their movement, flapping their fins up to 35 times per second (some scientists even put the figure at 70). They are also masterful at vertical maneuvers. By changing the volume of the swim bladder, these fish move up and down in a spiral. However, seahorses are not capable of swimming rapidly - they are considered record holders for the slowest swimming among famous fish. Most of For some time, the seahorse hangs motionless in the water, its tail hooked on algae, coral, or even the neck of a relative.

Skates can ride “astride” fish. Thanks to their curved tail, seahorses can travel long distances. They grab onto the fins of the perch and hold on until the fish swims into the algae thickets. And the skates grab their mate with their tail and swim in an embrace.

Seahorses have large eyes and quite sharp vision. Their tail is curved toward the belly, and their heads are decorated with horns of various shapes.

The skates' eyes move independently of one another. The seahorse's organ of vision is similar to the eyes of a chameleon. One eye of these fish can look forward, and the other can see what is happening behind.

Seahorses have the ability to change the color of their bodies, which allows them to skillfully camouflage themselves in thickets and among the bottom landscape. A lurking seahorse is almost impossible to spot in ambush unless you look extremely closely. The ability to camouflage is necessary for seahorses both for protection and for successful hunting, because they are active predators.

In the seas washing the shores of Russia, seahorses are represented by only two or three species - the Black Sea seahorse: found in the Black Sea and Seas of Azov, as well as the Japanese seahorse living in the Sea of ​​Japan. Occasionally in the Black Sea you can find a long-faced seahorse, common in the seas of the Mediterranean basin. For permanent residence, seahorses choose quieter places; rapid current and they don't like noisy tidal waves.

Seahorses are monogamous fish; they live in married pairs, but can periodically change partners. It is characteristic that these fish carry eggs, with males and females changing roles. During the mating season, females grow a tube-shaped ovipositor, and in the male, thickened folds in the tail area form a pouch. Before spawning, partners perform a long mating dance.

The female lays eggs in the male's pouch and he carries them for about 2 weeks. Newborn fry emerge from the pouch through a narrow opening. Sea dragons They do not have bags and carry eggs on the stem of the tail. The fertility of different species ranges from 5 to 1500 fry. Newborn fish are completely independent and move away from the parent pair.

Among the seahorses there are also very small representatives, a couple of centimeters in size, and there are also, of a kind, giants up to 30 centimeters long. The smallest species, the pygmy seahorse, is found in the Gulf of Mexico. Its length does not exceed four centimeters. In Black and Mediterranean seas You can find a long-faced or spotted seahorse, the length of which reaches 12-18 centimeters. The most famous are representatives of the species Hippocampus kuda, which lives off the coast of Indonesia. Seahorses of this species, about 14 centimeters long, are brightly and variegatedly colored, some speckled, others striped. The largest seahorses are found near Australia.

The life expectancy of seahorses is, on average, 3-4 years. The extreme vitality of these fish is known - once removed from the water, they can live for several hours and return to normal life, if they are released into their native element.

Natural enemies seahorses have few - its body is extremely bony and covered with bony formations. Therefore, only the big one hunts him land crab, which is capable of digesting such difficult-to-digest prey. Seahorses are not dangerous to humans. This is a peaceful, harmless fish, and also very small.

The greatest danger to seahorses is man himself. Nowadays, seahorses are on the verge of extinction - their numbers are rapidly declining. 30 species of seahorses out of 32 are listed in the Red Book. known to science. There are many reasons for this, and one of them is the massive catching of skates off the coast of Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines. Exotic appearance fish doomed them to the fact that people use them as souvenirs and gifts.

A separate point in the decline in seahorse populations is the fact that the taste of these fish is extremely valued by gourmets. Seahorse liver and caviar are considered a delicacy, although they have some laxative properties. A seahorse dish costs up to $800 per serving in some restaurants.

A huge number of seahorses (according to some estimates - up to 80 million seahorses per year) are used in countries Pacific region Asia and Australia for production medical supplies and drugs. These medications are used as pain relievers, for coughs and asthma, and also as a remedy for impotence. IN recent years this Far Eastern “Viagra” has become popular in Europe. People have known about the healing properties of seahorse meat since ancient times. Seahorses have been used to prepare various medicines and potions in many countries.

It is not very easy to keep seahorses in aquariums; they are demanding of food and are susceptible to disease, but it is very interesting to watch them.

Seahorses can sing. During mating games they perform peculiar dances around their partners and accompany themselves with clicking sounds, the tempo of which can vary.

Based on anatomical, molecular and genetic studies, the seahorse has been identified as a highly modified pipefish. Fossilized remains of seahorses are quite rare. The most studied fossils of the species Hippocampus guttulatus (synonym - H. ramulosus) from the formations of the Marecchia River (Italian province of Rimini). These finds are dated to the Lower Pliocene (about 3 million years ago). The earliest seahorse fossils are believed to be two Middle Miocene spinyfish species, Hippocampus sarmaticus and Hippocampus slovenicus, discovered in Slovenia. Their age is estimated at 13 million years. According to the molecular clock method, the seahorse and pipefish species diverged in the late Oligocene. There is a theory that this genus appeared in response to the emergence of large areas of shallow waters, which was caused by tectonic events. The appearance of vast shallows led to the spread of algae, and, as a result, the animals living in this environment.

It's hard to believe, but in ancient times seahorses were feared and considered chthonic creatures. The Chinese are confident that skates are coming back male strength, and Europeans decorate their aquariums with them.

Underwater chameleons

Unlike other inhabitants of the oceans and seas, seahorses swim upright and in pairs, often with their tails tied. At the same time, like chameleons, they avoid a few enemies, imitating the color of underwater plants.

The latter property is due to the fact that seahorses are incompetent swimmers. They have a small fin on the back that makes up to 35 movements per second, and pectoral fins, which are more correctly called rudders. And the dwarf seahorse is generally recognized as the slowest fish in the world. It moves at a speed of 1.5 meters per hour.

Good eaters

Seahorses have neither teeth nor a stomach. Their digestive system resembles a ramjet engine, so they have to eat constantly so as not to die of hunger. As a rule, they cling to algae with their tenacious tails and suck up water from a distance of up to three centimeters, and at the same time simple food. Every day they consume three thousand or more brine shrimp (planktonic organisms). They also love tiny fish, carefully watching them. Interestingly, both eyes of skates can look in different directions, studying the environment.

A close relative is the needlefish

However, there are not so many people who want to feast on the seahorses themselves, except perhaps penguins, crabs, tuna, stingrays and some very hungry predators. The thing is that seahorses are very poorly digested due to excessive bonyness. Their numerous long spines and ribbon-like leathery outgrowths are also unpleasant to absorb. As shown genetic research, the ancestors of seahorses are the same needle-like progenitor from which the needle fish appeared. The split into two species occurred approximately 23 million years ago.

Non-stress resistant

The greatest danger to seahorses comes from strong rolling motion, which leads to exhaustion and complete loss strength They like it calm and clear water. Interestingly, these fish are very susceptible to stress. In an unusual environment, they die quickly enough, even if they have food. This is why they do not take root well in aquariums. Interestingly, seahorses are monogamous, are faithful partners and do not separate from each other throughout their lives. After the death of one of them, the widow or widower grieves greatly, which can even cause death.

The choice is up to the lady

The role of the male in choosing his mate is secondary. The female herself decides who should mate with her. Having seen a suitable candidate for a wife, she tests his passion for three days. She dances with him and rises to the surface of the water, only to sink to the bottom again. In the literature, this phenomenon is described as a “predawn dance.” This happens many times.

Future partners exchange clicking signals among themselves. The male's task is to keep up with his dancing girlfriend. If he fails, the bride looks for another groom. It is believed that this is how the female tests the strength of the male. If the choice is made, then the seahorses begin mating.

Pregnant dad

Seahorses are faithful partners and are never separated from each other throughout their lives. At the same time, the male himself bears his cubs, being the only creature on earth in which the so-called male pregnancy occurs.

The mating dance lasts eight hours and is accompanied by a change in color. During the mating process, the female transfers the eggs to her partner in the brood pouch on her abdomen. It is there that miniature seahorses are formed within 40-50 days. From 5 to 1500 fry can be born.

By the way, some scientists claim that the expression pregnant male is not true. The fact is that the responsibility of the “sea horse” is to protect the fertilized eggs. During this period, the female visits the male once a day for 6 minutes of “morning greeting”, and then swims away until the next morning. In captivity, this routine may be disrupted.

For health

Only one in a hundred fry survive to adulthood. In fact, this figure is one of the highest for fish. IN lately the greatest danger to seahorses is humans; in particular, about 20 million of these fish are caught annually by the Chinese for traditional medicine, primarily for the treatment of impotence.

It is also claimed that a decoction of them helps overcome nocturnal enuresis. Seahorses sell for an average of $600 to $3,000 per kilogram. There are cases when these dried fish were exchanged for gold by weight one to one. In addition to the Chinese, Indonesians and Filipinos also catch seahorses. As a result, almost all seahorse species are listed in the Red Book. And a species like the Paradoxical Seahorse is considered extinct.

The seahorse is a small fish, which is a representative of the Spine family from the order Stickleback. Research has shown that the seahorse is a highly modified pipefish. Today the seahorse is a rather rare creature. In this article you will find a description and photo of a seahorse and learn a lot of new and interesting things about this extraordinary creature.

The seahorse looks very unusual and its body shape resembles chess piece horse The seahorse fish has many long bony spines and various leathery projections on its body. Thanks to this body structure, the seahorse appears unnoticed among the algae and remains inaccessible to predators. The seahorse looks amazing, it has small fins, its eyes rotate independently of each other, and its tail is curled into a spiral. The seahorse looks diverse, because it can change the color of its scales.


The seahorse looks small, its size depends on the species and varies from 4 to 25 cm. In the water, the seahorse swims vertically, unlike other fish. This is due to the fact that the seahorse’s swim bladder consists of an abdominal and a head part. The head bladder is larger than the abdominal one, which allows the seahorse to maintain an upright position when swimming.


Now the seahorse is becoming increasingly rare and is on the verge of extinction due to a rapid decline in numbers. There are many reasons for the disappearance of the seahorse. The main one is the destruction by humans of both the fish itself and its habitats. Off the coast of Australia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, pipits are being caught en masse. The exotic appearance and bizarre body shape are the reason why people began to make gift souvenirs from them. For beauty, the tail is artificially arched and the body is given the shape of the letter “S”, but in nature skates do not look like that.


Another reason that contributes to the decline in the seahorse population is that they are a delicacy. Gourmets highly value the taste of these fish, especially the eyes and liver of seahorses. In a restaurant, the cost of one serving of such a dish costs $800.


In total, there are about 50 species of seahorses, 30 of which are already listed in the Red Book. Luckily, seahorses are very fertile and can produce over a thousand young at a time, keeping the seahorses from going extinct. Seahorses are bred in captivity, but this fish is very demanding to keep. One of the most extravagant seahorses is the rag-picker seahorse, which you can see in the photo below.


The seahorse lives in tropical and subtropical seas. The seahorse fish lives mainly at shallow depths or near the shore and leads a sedentary lifestyle. The seahorse lives in dense thickets of algae and other marine vegetation. It attaches itself to plant stems or corals with its flexible tail, remaining almost invisible due to its body covered with various projections and spines.


The seahorse fish changes body color to completely blend in with environment. In this way, the seahorse successfully camouflages itself not only from predators, but also while foraging for food. The seahorse is very bony, so few people want to eat it. The main hunter of the seahorse is the large land crab. The seahorse can travel long distances. To do this, it attaches its tail to the fins various fish and stays on them until the “free taxi” swims into the algae thickets.


What do seahorses eat?

Seahorses eat crustaceans and shrimp. Seahorses eat very interestingly. The tubular stigma, like a pipette, draws prey into the mouth along with water. Seahorses eat quite a lot and hunt almost the whole day, taking short breaks of a couple of hours.


Seahorses eat about 3 thousand planktonic crustaceans per day. But seahorses eat almost any food, as long as it does not exceed the size of their mouth. The seahorse fish is a hunter. With its flexible tail, the seahorse clings to the algae and remains motionless until the prey is in the required proximity to the head. After which the seahorse absorbs water along with food.


How do seahorses reproduce?

Seahorses reproduce quite in an unusual way, because their fry is carried by the male. Seahorses often have monogamous pairs. Mating season seahorses are an amazing sight. Couple about to conclude marriage union, is held together by its tails and dances in the water. During the dance, the skates press against each other, after which the male opens a special pocket in the abdominal area, into which the female throws eggs. Subsequently, the male bears offspring for a month.


Seahorses reproduce quite frequently and produce large offspring. A seahorse gives birth to one thousand or more young at a time. The fry are born an absolute copy of the adults, only very tiny. The babies that are born are left to their own devices. In nature, a seahorse lives for about 4-5 years.


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Seahorse (from Latin Hippocampus) small, cute sea ​​fish unusual shape from the genus of bony fishes (family of needlefishes) of the order Acquiliformes. Looking at this fish, one immediately remembers the chess piece of a knight. Long neck – distinctive feature skate. If you disassemble the skate into body parts, then its head resembles that of a horse, its tail resembles that of a monkey, its eyes resemble those of a chameleon, and its outer integument resembles that of insects. The unusual structure of the tail allows the skate to cling to seaweed and corals and hide in them when they sense danger. The ability to mimic (camouflage) makes the seahorse practically invulnerable. The seahorse feeds on plankton. Young skates are quite voracious and can eat for 10 hours in a row, eating up to three thousand crustaceans and shrimp. Vertical arrangement seahorse relative to water is its distinctive feature.

It is interesting that the seahorse is a caring father and faithful husband. The difficult burden of motherhood falls on the shoulders of the male. The seahorse independently carries the baby in a special bag, which is located in the lower part of the seahorse's abdomen. It is there that the female introduces eggs during mating games. If the female dies, the male for a long time remains faithful to its partner and vice versa, if the male dies, the female remains faithful to the male for up to 4 weeks.

Dimensions

The size of a seahorse varies from two to three centimeters to 30. Thirty centimeters is the size giant representative seahorse. The average size is 10 or 12 centimeters. The smallest representatives, dwarf seahorses, are about 13 or even 3 millimeters. With a size of 13 centimeters, the mass of a seahorse is about 10 grams.

A few more photos of seahorses.