The pygmy seahorse is one of the ocean's smallest horses, inhabiting coral reef slopes and seamounts across the Indo-Pacific. Masters of camouflage, they cling to sea fans and soft corals with prehensile tails, their body colour and tubercles matching their chosen host almost perfectly. Finding one demands patience and a careful eye—divers often pass within centimetres without noticing. Listed on CITES Appendix II, these delicate creatures are vulnerable to collection for the aquarium trade.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Teleostei
- Order
- Syngnathiformes
- Family
- Syngnathidae
- Genus
- Hippocampus
Most likely to be seen at
Sites where its range and habitat make it likely — not yet confirmed by a logged sighting.