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Denise's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise) — Syngnathidae

Denise's pygmy seahorse

Hippocampus denise
Family: Syngnathidae

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

Length
2.2 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
7–100 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Indonesia, Malaysia, Vanuatu, Micronesia and others

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Description

Denise's pygmy seahorse is one of the smallest seahorses (Syngnathidae) from the western Pacific. The species stays about 2 cm long and lives exclusively on gorgonian fan corals, whose colour and knobbly texture it mimics perfectly. With its tubular snout it sucks up minute zooplankton. As in other seahorses the male carries and broods the eggs in a pouch. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Denise's pygmy seahorse?

The Denise's pygmy seahorse has an irregular in shape body and is mainly red-orange.

Where does the Denise's pygmy seahorse live?

The Denise's pygmy seahorse lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Indonesia, Malaysia, Vanuatu, Micronesia and others

How big does the Denise's pygmy seahorse get?

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

Is the Denise's pygmy seahorse dangerous to humans?

No, the Denise'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

Denise's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise) — Syngnathidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Reijnen BT, van der Meij SET, van Ofwegen LP (CC BY 3.0)
Denise's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise) — Syngnathidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) sophiehabegger, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Denise's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise) — Syngnathidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Reijnen BT, van der Meij SET, van Ofwegen LP (CC BY 3.0)
Denise's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise) — Syngnathidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) terence zahner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Denise's pygmy seahorse sourced
Scientific name
Hippocampus denise
Family
Syngnathidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
2.2 verified
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Tail shape
Rounded

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
7 verified
Max depth (m)
100 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Indonesia, Malaysia, Vanuatu, Micronesia 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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