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Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) — Syngnathidae

Bargibant's pygmy seahorse

Hippocampus bargibanti
Family: Syngnathidae

The Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 2 cm.

Length
2.4 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–40 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is. and others

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Description

The Bargibant's pygmy seahorse is a seahorse (Syngnathidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 2.4 cm and has an upright body armoured in bony rings with a horse-like head, a prehensile tail and a tubular snout. This tiny seahorse lives almost invisibly on Muricella sea fans, with tubercles that perfectly mimic the coral polyps. It swims slowly and clings with its tail to weed, coral or seagrass and sucks in minute crustaceans. The male carries the eggs in a pouch. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bargibant's pygmy seahorse?

The Bargibant's pygmy seahorse has an irregular in shape body and is mainly pink-purple.

Where does the Bargibant's pygmy seahorse live?

The Bargibant's pygmy seahorse lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is. and others

How big does the Bargibant's pygmy seahorse get?

The Bargibant's pygmy seahorse grows to a maximum of about 2 cm.

Is the Bargibant's pygmy seahorse dangerous to humans?

No, the Bargibant's pygmy seahorse is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) — Syngnathidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — O.J.Brett, Norway. (Public domain)
Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) — Syngnathidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Julian Hsu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) — Syngnathidae — 4
Chris Spain (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) — Syngnathidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Ron Greer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Bargibant's pygmy seahorse sourced
Scientific name
Hippocampus bargibanti
Family
Syngnathidae
Other names
Bargibant's seahorse; Gorgonian seahorse; Pygmy seahorse verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
2.4 verified
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Pink / purple sourced
Tail shape
Rounded

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0 verified
Max depth (m)
40 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is. and others sourced
Origin
Native

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes
Sexual dimorphism
Yes
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Hippocampus

More from the family Syngnathidae

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