Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula trunk rings (until anus), 11; tail rings, 34-36;D, 17; A, 4  photo : David Darom

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body wide in upper part, becoming slender with prehensile curved tail. Head situated at right angle to the body axis. Body composed of bony rings arranged in dermal plates, without spines. Cylindrical snout, its length 2.5 times in head length, ending in a small mouth. Low, round spine on cheek. Prominent spine above eye. Coronet slightly elevated with tiny protrusions or wedge-like ridges. color : variable according to background, from brown with delicate white spots to lemon yellow. size : 3-14 cm (max. 15 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Hippocampus guttulatus (=H. ramulosus): presence of dorsal spines and dermal flap on the head and neck. Hippocampus hippocampus: snout length more than 2.8 times in head length. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds on zooplankton. Male has a ventral pouch in which he cares for the ova and larvae. Brood size is about 150 individuals, which are ejected at size of 5 mm. Juveniles attempt to attach themselves to the substrate almost immediately. habitat : usually found up to 10 m, on stones and gravel, as well as on artificial constructions. Often in harbors and bays in relatively calm waters.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD 2001, coast of Israel. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide: western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Mediterranean: off the Mediterranean coast of Israel (Golani and Fine, 2002); later, Antalya Bay, Turkey (Gokoglu et al., 2004). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Prevalent. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Gokoglu M., Bodur T. and Kaya Y., 2004. First records of Hippocampus fuscus and Syngnathus rostellatus (Osteichthyes: Syngnathidae) from the Anatolian coast (Mediterranean Sea). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 84: 1093-1094. Golani D. and Fine M., 2002. On the occurrence of Hippocampus fuscus in the eastern Mediterranean. Journal of Fish Biology, 60: 764-766. Kuiter R.H., 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and their Relatives: a Comprehensive Guide to Syngnathiformes. Chorleywood: TMC.   Lourie S.A., Vincent A.C.J. and Hall H.J., 1999. Seahorses: an Identification Guide to the World's Species and their Conservation. London: Project Seahorse. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: June 2004 ©ciesm 2002