Bargibant's Seahorse
Hippocampus bargibanti
- Class
- Ray-finned fish
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 889
- Most observed in
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
Hippocampus bargibanti, also known as Bargibant's seahorse or the pygmy seahorse, is a species of seahorse in the family Syngnathidae found in the central Indo-Pacific area. This pygmy seahorse is tiny—usually less than 2 centimetres (0.79 in) in size—and lives exclusively on gorgonian sea-fans, as its coloration and physical features expertly mimic the coral for camouflage. The relationship between a pygmy seahorse and its host sea-fan is non-invasive and non-parasitic, serving only to shelter the diminutive seahorse. There are two known color variations, grey with red tubercles and yellow with orange tubercles. It is unknown whether or not, though speculated that, these color varieties are linked to specific host gorgonians (corals).
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Hippocampus bargibanti”.