The Sea Horse

The sea horse is found living in tropical and temperate waters all around the world. This unusual-looking fish resembles a horse, which is how it got its name. This sea animal is truly a fish. It has a dorsal fin on the lower body and a pectoral fin on its head. It also has gills. This intriguing fish is endangered because it is overly hunted. The sea horse is used as medicine in Asian countries. Over 20 million sea horses are used each year for this purpose. The sea horse can also be kept in an aquarium under the right conditions. But outside of their natural environment, most sea horses are not able to survive.

The sea horse is known for its peculiar looks, but it is also different in how it reproduces. The male sea horse is the one that becomes pregnant. It takes anywhere from ten days to six weeks for the baby sea horses to develop. At least a hundred babies are born at this time but only a few will mature to adulthood. One of the best ways the sea horse is able to survive is by hiding. A sea horse uses camouflage as a form of protection.

There are at least 30 different types of sea horses. They range in size from about an inch to a foot long. There are a variety of colors and patterns found on sea horses. Some are beige and brown while others are bright orange or purple. The sea horse’s diet consists of krill, zooplankton, and other tiny animals.