Syngnathidae Seahorses Sea Dragons Pipefish by Christy Cusick

Syngnathidae Seahorses, Sea Dragons & Pipefish by Christy Cusick http: //www. seahorses. de/gallery. htm

Seahorse Distribution http: //seahorse. fisheries. ubc. ca/faq. html

• • • 35 known species of seahorse Size ranges from 1/4”-14” Lifespan 3 -7 years Live in seagrass beds and mangrove roots Feed on plankton Ambush predators 360 brine shrimp/ hour http: //www. hkdivephoto. com/stephenwong/seahorse/show 009. shtml http: // www. seahorse. org/gallery/Hingens/ingens 1 Lg

Seahorse Anatomy • • Coronet – human fingerprint Dorsal fin – propulsion Pectoral fins – steering Eyes – move independently Hinged interlocking bony plates Gills – behind the head Swim bladder http: //www. pbs. org/wgbh/nova/seahorse/basics. html

http: //www. seahorse. org/library/articles/sex. shtml

Seahorse Reproduction • • Monogamous Extensive courtship ritual Female releases eggs into male brood pouch Male fertilizes eggs Pregnant 2 -8 weeks Male gives birth Why sex-role reversal? http: //www. pbs. org/wgbh/nova/seahorse/roundup. html http: //www. colszoo. org/animalareas/shores/seahrse. html

http: //www. seahorse. org/gallery/Hbreviceps/H_breviceps_4

Seahorse Conservation Hippocampus capensis Knysna Seahorse • • Lack of data 20 million/year 25 -70% decline over last 5 -10 years Habitat destruction http: //www. reefkeeping. com/issues/2004 -11/hcs 3/

Souvenirs, trawling by-catch, aquarium trade • Asian markets consume 16 million annually • Cure for impotency, lowers cholesterol, delicacy in cooking • http: //zubi. merseine. nu/student/broschi/Pictures/Zubi/Gefaehrdung/Seeperdchentrocken. jpg

Leafy Seadragon • • • Endemic to Southern coast of Australia Coastal kelp forests 1 dorsal fin 2 pectoral fins Leafy appendages http: //www. divegallery. com/Leafy_Sea_Dragon_7. htm

Phycodurus eques http: //www. divegallery. com/Leafy_Sea_Dragon. htm

http: //www. divetheblue. net/images/354 o. jpg? PHPSESSID=d 76 be 6141 afc 9 fb 718 d 7 f 0 b 762 cb 541 e • • Body covered with jointed bony plates 14”- 20” in length Lifespan 5 -7 years Feed on plankton – preferably sea lice

http: //www. divegallery. com/Leafy_Sea_Dragon. htm

Can change color to match environment • Always return to the same spot • Easy for poachers to find • No “natural” predators • http: //www. divegallery. com/Leafy_Sea_Dragon. htm

http: //www. divegallery. com/Leafy_Sea_Dragon. htm

Leafy Seadragon Reproduction Female lays eggs under tail of male • Brood patch 100 -250 eggs • Males carry from 4 -6 weeks • http: //www. seaphotos. com/seahorses. html

• No parental care after birth • Hatchlings being to feed 3 days after birth http: //www. seaphotos. com/seahorses. html

Weedy Seadragon Endemic to the Australian coast • Lifespan 7 -10 years • Up to 18” in length • Phyllopteryx taeniolatus http: //www. divegallery. com/Weedy_Sea_Dragon. htm

• Males carry 100 -300 eggs http: //www. amonline. net. au/fishes/students/focus/seadrag. htm http: //www. seaphotos. com/seahorses. html

Seadragon Conservation Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 • Aquarium in Western Australia is one of only three aquaria in the world to have legally and successfully kept leafy sea-dragons on display • http: //www. oceanwideimages. com

Conservation U. S. imports over 200, 000 seahorses every year • By-catch kills millions of species every year • Conservation programs in Asia • http: //www. underwater. com. au/image. php/id/1342 http: //www. pbs. org/wgbh/nova/seahorse/roundup. html

Questions to think about • What makes them so susceptible to over fishing? • • • Low reproductive rate Low success rate of hatchlings Easy to catch High demand What are the benefits of sex-role reversal? • Females can devote more of their energy to producing expensive eggs.