Pygmy seahorse (group overview)

IUCN

Scientific Name：Hippocampus (pygmy complex)

Basic Information

Scientific classification

name：Pygmy seahorse (group overview)
Scientific Name：Hippocampus (pygmy complex)
Outline：Small fish
Family：Syngnathidae Hippocampus Pygmy seahorse

Vital signs

length：~1.4–2.7 cm
Weight：Very small; varies
lifetime：~1–3 years

Feature

Miniaturised; male brooding; host-associated; cryptic.

Distribution and Habitat

Indo‑Pacific outer reef slopes; gorgonians/soft corals; 10–40 m.

Appearance

Tubercles/colour match hosts; prehensile tail.

Details

Pygmy seahorses are miniaturised Hippocampus noted for extreme crypsis and male brooding; many live on gorgonians.

The pygmy seahorse, measuring about one centimeter in length, is also known as the dwarf seahorse. Its observed body colors include red, gray, yellow, and white, and it varies depending on the soft corals it inhabits. Different species may also exhibit mimicry based on their specific host corals, but all three species share the same "super-mini" size, with a maximum length not exceeding three centimeters. This tiny marine creature, which is not commercially viable, has driven the growth of the tourism market, making the pygmy seahorse craze in the diving tourism industry a remarkable phenomenon.