Hippocampus camelopardalis Bianconi, 1854

Scientific Classification

The giraffe seahorse, with the scientific name Hippocampus camelopardalis, is a species of fish in the family Syngnathidae.

Geographic Range

This seahorse lives in coastal waters along the south and east coasts of Africa, ranging from South Africa to Tanzania, and may range as far north as Kenya.

Habitat

It inhabits estuarine seagrass beds, algae beds, and shallow reefs up to depths of 45 metres (148 ft), and can grow to a maximum length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in).

Diet

Like other seahorses, it is expected to feed on small crustaceans.

Reproduction

This species is ovoviviparous; males carry eggs in a brood pouch before giving birth to live young.

Sexual Maturity

Individuals reach sexual maturity when they are around 6.5 centimetres (2.6 in) long.

Primary Threats

Major threats to the giraffe seahorse include habitat loss, coastal development, pollution, overexploitation via bycatch.

Human-Related Threats

Additional threats come from human harvest, where individuals are dried for use in traditional medicine or kept as curios.

Body Coloration

The giraffe seahorse has dark spots scattered across its body: one spot sits on top of the coronet, or crown, of its head, and additional spots are found on the dorso-lateral surface of its body.

Spine Morphology

Both males and females have a prominent spine located above each eye.