Seahorseタツノオトシゴ

Hippocampus mohnikeiVU— Vulnerable

The Japanese seahorse (Hippocampus mohnikei) is a small seahorse, reaching about 8 cm long, found in shallow coastal waters historically centered on Japan and now confirmed across parts of East and Southeast Asia including India's Palk Bay and Cambodia. As in other seahorses, males carry the female's eggs in a brood pouch until they hatch. The species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and included in CITES Appendix II.

Seahorse (reference photo)
Photo: opencage / CC BY-SA 2.5 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Syngnathiformes / Syngnathidae Source
Distribution
Ranges across East and Southeast Asia, historically centered on Japan, with confirmed occurrences extending to India's Palk Bay and Cambodia. Source

Did You Know?

  • Males carry the female's eggs in an abdominal brood pouch until they hatch; Japanese individuals have been recorded laying 40-50 eggs over about two hours. Source
  • Unlike many seahorse species, it is notably not among those commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. Source
  • In parts of Japan, dried seahorses are traditionally carried by pregnant women as charms for safe childbirth. Source

Where to See This Species

2 facilities · 0 individuals

志摩マリンランド (Shimamarin Land)MieOpened in 1970

志摩マリンランドのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

長崎ペンギン水族館 (Nagasakipengin Suizokukan)NagasakiOpened in 2001

長崎ペンギン水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Latest news

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Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNレッドリストではVU。沿岸開発による藻場の減少、混獲、採集が保全上の課題となる。

Habitat

日本沿岸を含む北西太平洋の浅海、海草藻場や藻場。

Threats

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

How big does the Japanese seahorse get?
It is a small species, reaching a maximum length of about 8 cm. Source
Do male seahorses really carry the eggs?
Yes. Females deposit their eggs into a brood pouch on the male's abdomen, and he carries and protects them until they hatch. Source
Is the Japanese seahorse endangered?
It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and protected under CITES Appendix II, which regulates international trade. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org