Seahorses

Seahorses are found in shallow tropical and temperate waters. They prefer to live in protected areas such as mangroves, beds with seagrass, estuaries and coral reefs. They get their name from their heads, which look like those of horses. Although it may not seem, the seahorse is actually a fish. Although there are no scales associated with fish, the seahorse has a grit skeleton, thanks to a merged jaw and bone plates. Seahorses are not good swimmers and usually swim in an upright position. They are driven using a small fin on their back, which flickers up to 35 times per second, and anchor with their tails to the sea grasses and corals. Most seahorses use camouflage to combine with their surroundings.

Seahorses are about 54 species and can range in size from half an inch to more than a foot in length, depending on the species. They have snouts that they use to suck food. They feed mainly on plankton and small crustaceans that float around them. Seahorses feed continuously and can consume 50 or more salami shrimp per day. Seahorses are among the only animal species on Earth in which the male gives birth to unborn young. Male seahorses spend most of their lives pregnant. Within days of the launch of a breeding, the men become pregnant again within days. When released, the seahorse babies are fully formed, growing up in their father's pouch.

Seahorses are declining in number because their homes are also being destroyed because of overfishing. They are also very popular as pets and in aquariums.