SyngnathidaeSyngnathidaeSeahorses, Sea Dragons & PipefishSeahorses, Sea Dragons & Pipefish

by Christy Cusickby Christy Cusick

http://www.seahorses.de/gallery.htm

Seahorse DistributionSeahorse Distribution

http://seahorse.fisheries.ubc.ca/faq.html

• 35 known species of 35 known species of seahorseseahorse

• Size ranges from Size ranges from 1/4”-14”1/4”-14”• Lifespan 3-7 yearsLifespan 3-7 years• Live in seagrass Live in seagrass

beds and mangrove beds and mangrove rootsroots

• Feed on planktonFeed on plankton• Ambush predatorsAmbush predators 360 brine shrimp/ 360 brine shrimp/

hourhour

http://www.seahorse.org/gallery/Hingens/ingens1Lg

http://www.hkdivephoto.com/stephenwong/seahorse/show009.shtml

Seahorse AnatomySeahorse Anatomy

• Coronet – human Coronet – human fingerprintfingerprint

• Dorsal fin – propulsionDorsal fin – propulsion• Pectoral fins – steeringPectoral fins – steering• Eyes – move independentlyEyes – move independently• Hinged interlocking bony Hinged interlocking bony

platesplates• Gills – behind the headGills – behind the head• Swim bladder Swim bladder

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/seahorse/basics.html

http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/sex.shtml

Seahorse ReproductionSeahorse Reproduction• MonogamousMonogamous• Extensive courtship Extensive courtship

ritualritual• Female releases eggs Female releases eggs

into male brood pouchinto male brood pouch• Male fertilizes eggsMale fertilizes eggs• Pregnant 2-8 weeksPregnant 2-8 weeks• Male gives birthMale gives birth• Why sex-role reversal?Why sex-role reversal?

http://www.colszoo.org/animalareas/shores/seahrse.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/seahorse/roundup.html

http://www.seahorse.org/gallery/Hbreviceps/H_breviceps_4

Seahorse ConservationSeahorse Conservation

• Lack of dataLack of data• 20 million/year20 million/year• 25-70% decline 25-70% decline

over last 5-10 over last 5-10 yearsyears

• Habitat destructionHabitat destruction

Hippocampus capensisHippocampus capensis Knysna Seahorse Knysna Seahorse

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/hcs3/

• Souvenirs, trawling Souvenirs, trawling by-catch, aquarium by-catch, aquarium trade trade

• Asian markets Asian markets consume 16 million consume 16 million annuallyannually

• Cure for impotency, Cure for impotency, lowers cholesterol, lowers cholesterol, delicacy in cookingdelicacy in cooking

http://zubi.merseine.nu/student/broschi/Pictures/Zubi/Gefaehrdung/Seeperdchentrocken.jpg

Leafy SeadragonLeafy Seadragon

• Endemic to Endemic to Southern coast of Southern coast of AustraliaAustralia

• Coastal kelp forestsCoastal kelp forests• 1 dorsal fin1 dorsal fin• 2 pectoral fins2 pectoral fins• Leafy appendages Leafy appendages http://www.divegallery.com/Leafy_Sea_Dragon_7.htm

Phycodurus equesPhycodurus eques

http://www.divegallery.com/Leafy_Sea_Dragon.htm

• Body covered with jointed bony platesBody covered with jointed bony plates• 14”- 20” in length14”- 20” in length• Lifespan 5-7 yearsLifespan 5-7 years• Feed on plankton – preferably sea liceFeed on plankton – preferably sea lice

http://www.divetheblue.net/images/354o.jpg?PHPSESSID=d76be6141afc9fb718d7f0b762cb541e

http://www.divegallery.com/Leafy_Sea_Dragon.htm

• Can change Can change color to match color to match environmentenvironment

• Always return to Always return to the same spotthe same spot

• Easy for Easy for poachers to findpoachers to find

• No “natural” No “natural” predatorspredators

http://www.divegallery.com/Leafy_Sea_Dragon.htm

http://www.divegallery.com/Leafy_Sea_Dragon.htm

Leafy Seadragon ReproductionLeafy Seadragon Reproduction

• Female lays Female lays eggs under eggs under tail of maletail of male

• Brood patch Brood patch 100-250 100-250 eggseggs

• Males carry Males carry from 4-6 from 4-6 weeksweeks

http://www.seaphotos.com/seahorses.html

http://www.seaphotos.com/seahorses.html

• No parental care afterNo parental care after birthbirth

• Hatchlings being to Hatchlings being to feed 3 days after birthfeed 3 days after birth

Weedy SeadragonWeedy Seadragon• Endemic to the Australian coastEndemic to the Australian coast• Lifespan 7-10 yearsLifespan 7-10 years• Up to 18” in lengthUp to 18” in length

http://www.divegallery.com/Weedy_Sea_Dragon.htm

Phyllopteryx taeniolatusPhyllopteryx taeniolatus

http://www.seaphotos.com/seahorses.html

• Males carry Males carry

100-300 eggs 100-300 eggs

http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/students/focus/seadrag.htm

Seadragon ConservationSeadragon Conservation

• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999Conservation Act 1999

• Aquarium in Western Australia is one of only Aquarium in Western Australia is one of only three aquaria in the world to have legally and three aquaria in the world to have legally and successfully kept leafy sea-dragons on successfully kept leafy sea-dragons on displaydisplay

http://www.oceanwideimages.com

• U.S. imports over U.S. imports over 200,000 seahorses 200,000 seahorses every yearevery year

• By-catch kills By-catch kills millions of species millions of species every yearevery year

• Conservation Conservation programs in Asiaprograms in Asia

http://www.underwater.com.au/image.php/id/1342

ConservationConservation

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/seahorse/roundup.html

Questions to think aboutQuestions to think about

• What makes them so susceptible to over What makes them so susceptible to over fishing?fishing?

• Low reproductive rateLow reproductive rate• Low success rate of hatchlingsLow success rate of hatchlings• Easy to catch Easy to catch • High demandHigh demand

• What are the benefits of sex-role reversal?What are the benefits of sex-role reversal?• Females can devote more of their energy to producing Females can devote more of their energy to producing

expensive eggs.expensive eggs.