Spiny Seahorse

The Spiny Seahorse is a small, ornate member of the seahorse family, reaching around 17 cm in length. Its body is covered in prominent spines and ridges that give it excellent camouflage among seagrass and coral rubble, where it anchors itself with a prehensile tail. Like all seahorses, males carry and incubate the eggs in a brood pouch until the fully formed young are released. The species is listed as Vulnerable, reflecting pressure from habitat loss and collection for the aquarium trade.