Seahorse Survives Being Run Over
Who said seahorses aren't tough? Certainly no one told this little seahorse.
She was found washed ashore at Studland, Dorset (England), spotted by a group of ten year olds looking for sea shells moments before it was run over. Assumed dead, Studland National Trust visitor experience officer Kevin Rideout placed it in a jar of water to give the children a better view. 20 minutes later, Rideout looked again, only to see the seahorse swimming around. She was later released in a protected spot from some rocks near the shore.
From: The Daily Echo
Pygmy Pipehorse fossil found.
Have I mentioned that pygmy pipehorses are my new favorite sygnathid? Because they totally are.
Amazing new fossils of what appears to be the early stages of a seahorse, the "missing link" as it were, from pipefish to seahorses, a pygmy pipehorse. The new species was named Hippotropiscis frenki, and appears to be more seahorse shaped than modern pygmy pipehorses. It's also tiny, only an inch long, suggesting seahorses evolved from small ancestors. At 12 million years old, it is thought that there were still earlier anscetors seahorses and pygmy pipehorses had in common, but it is also significantly different than modern pygmy pipehorses, having a more slender build and a large dorsal fin.
We can be thankful that syngnathids have those nice boney plates which mean their fossils are a more complete picture than many species. Recent discoveries have been shedding some wonderful light on the history of seahorses and their relatives. The most recent find, from Slovenia, also produced seahorse and pipehorse (not to be confused with pygmy pipehorse) fossils that have yet to be released.
Source: National Geographic
Sydney Aquarium Welcomes Weedy Seadragons
The Sydney Aquarium welcomes 4 Weedy Seadragons to their family. These seadragons are captive bred, hailing from the Melborne aquarium, one of the few successful breeding programs around the world. While it is illegal to capture adult seadragons without a permit, most found in public aquariums are taken from egg laden males, and raise in captivity after they hatch. The male is then re-released in the wild where he was found. These 4 though were bred from parents in captivity, marking a huge milestone in sustainable aquaculture of seadragons.
Rare seahorses washed ashore in UK
In the US, Seahorses wash up on shore frequently, especially around Florida and certain parts of the east coast. It's highly unlikely it would it make the news. The UK, on the other hand, takes their seahorses very seriously. Recently, 3 seahorses have been found washed ashore in Studland Bay, Dorset. Gale force winds are thought to be responsible for sweeping these seahorses out of their normally calm waters. Studland Bay is a quiet seagrass bed that the breeding ground of two species of seahorse.
All three seahorses were found alive and returned to the sea.
Beautiful Pygmy Pipedragon Video
Amazing video of Kyonemichthys rumengani, the pygmy pipedragon, or lembeh sea dragon:
Lembeh Seadragon (Kyonemichthys rumengani) from EunJae Im on Vimeo.
Pot Belly Seahorses Give Birth at NY Aquarium
Isn't that cute? NY Aquarium is the proud "parent" of several new baby pot-bellied seahorses (Hippocampus abdominalis). The seahorse fry come from several parents. They are unique among seahorses in that they are not monogamous and do not form long term pair bonds, like many species are thought to.
“It is very exciting to announce the successful propagation of these pot-bellied seahorses," said aquarium director and WCS Vice President Jon Forrest Dohlin. “The birth of any threatened species helps us further our goal of educating and enlightening people about marine life and ecosystems. Being a world leader in conservation, WCS also does a lot of work in the field. Our expansive Global Marine program conducts conservation efforts in 20 countries and all four oceans around the world.”
Potbelly Seahorses are one of the largest species of seahorses, growing over a foot. They also produce some of the largest fry, clocking in at 1.8cm, and the most numerous, up to 1500 fry born at one time. They are protected by Australian law and the CITES treaty. However, they are still considered threatened and face many challenges to their survival, including habitat loss and global warming. So kudos to NY aquarium for their success breeding these unique seahorses!
Pregnant Pygmy Seahorse
Amazing photo of a pregnant H. denise pygmy seahorse. These seahorses never reach an inch. The males carry the eggs, but unlike larger seahorses, they have no pouch, so instead he carries the eggs in his body cavity.
Monteray Bay Adding TigerTail Seahorses
Monteray Bay is adding Tiger Tail Seahorses to their Secret Life Of Seahorses exhibit. One of my favorite species, for sure!
New Seahorse Species Under Threat
Patagonian seahorses, recently discovered, are under thread due to human encroachment and fishing.