What are the characteristics of a seahorse? How do they connect?

One of the most beloved sea creatures, seahorses are quite unusual creatures when you consider their characteristics. The most famous feature is that male seahorses have the ability to reproduce. As such, seahorses have become an object of great curiosity. We’ve compiled general seahorse characteristics and information you’ll hear for the first time. Here’s what you need to know about seahorses.

Let’s start with a brief information about seahorses 👇

There are species of seahorses ranging in size from 16 mm to 35 cm. These species are found in temperate and tropical waters around the world. Seahorses have gills on their hind flippers and head, with pectoral fins next to them. Due to this physical appearance, they fall under the category of fish.

So far, 40 species of seahorses have been discovered, and their exact number is unknown. The seahorse population is in great danger due to overfishing in recent years. Seahorses are used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which is why 20 million seahorses are caught and sold each year.

Features of the seahorse

Seahorses attract a lot of attention with their physical appearance and characteristics. Seahorses that have managed to live among the dangerous creatures of the underwater world are the only creatures that can stand upright among marine vertebrates. In addition, the fact that their males have the ability to reproduce makes them interesting.

• The seahorse is the only creature in the world whose male can become pregnant.
• Some species of seahorses are partially transparent, so they are not visible in the aquarium.
• Seahorses have fast-moving eyes. In this way, they can observe both their prey and those who want to hunt them without moving.
• The seahorse can only move its head up and down.
• They are classified as vertebrates because they have an internal skeleton.
• It is the only creature standing upright among marine vertebrates.
• Seahorses have very tough skin. Because of this hardness, it is not possible to manually break a dead seahorse that has dried over time.
• The lifespan of seahorses is about 4-5 years.
• These creatures, which are used to produce many medicines, are also hunted for their aphrodisiac effects.
• Of the thousands of seahorses that come to life, only 2-3 survive.
• Thanks to their noses, they can easily swallow their prey.
• It has three small fins. The fin on the back provides the energy needed to move. The other two fins under the gills provide balance and direction.
• Because they have a very hard structure, the vast majority of sea creatures do not hunt them. Tunas, crabs and penguins feed on seahorses.
• Seahorses use their camouflage abilities for both stealth and courtship. The male seahorse takes on an almost identical color when courting the female. After the two different sexes meet and the brood sac in the belly of the male seahorse swells, it returns to its original color after some time.
• Seahorses are monogamous. According to research, these creatures lead their entire lives in monogamy. In fact, a seahorse that has lost a mate waits for days and months to mate.
• Seahorses have two eyes that can move independently of each other.
• The crown-like protrusion on the heads of seahorses is unique, as are human fingerprints.

How do seahorses reproduce?

The answers to questions such as why male seahorses get pregnant and whether seahorses are androgynous are very interesting. We have explained what you need to know about these topics.

Most seahorses are pregnant for about 2 to 3 weeks. The male seahorse has a brood sac in which he carries the eggs laid by the female. The mating pair wraps their tails together and the female inserts a long tube, the ovipositor, into the male’s pouch. The egg travels up the tube into the male’s pouch, where the male then fertilizes the eggs. The embryos develop from ten days to six weeks, depending on species and water conditions. When the male gives birth, he ejaculates until all the young seahorses have hatched. Don’t meddle here; In seahorses, males produce sperm and females produce eggs. Therefore, there are no changes in this regard. The only difference is the place of fertilization.

The male’s pouch adjusts the salinity of the eggs, slowly increasing it as the eggs begin to mature to match the external proportion. Chicks are independent of their parents. Some spend their development time with ocean plankton. Occasionally, male seahorses may eat newly hatched fry.

Do seahorses eat?

Although there are no prohibitions in many cultures, seahorses are not eaten. However, unlike many cultures, seahorses are eaten in Asian countries.

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