Seahorses
Rachel Smith
Biology 104
03 April 2015 Seahorses are majestic creatures that roam the aquatic depths and fascinate mankind with their unique body type. Seahorse is the name given to fifty-four species of small aquatic fishes in the genus Hippocampus. "Hippocampus" comes from the Ancient Greek word hippos meaning "horse" and kampos meaning "sea monster". Seahorses are also classified as Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Sub-phylum Vertebrata, Class Osteichthyes and Order Perciformes (All 1). They are also categorized in the Family Syngnathidae, which includes pipefish and sea dragons (Kennedy 1). Seahorses are extraordinary sea creatures with unique body characteristics, reproduces in a distinctive way, and they are in jeopardy …show more content…
Seahorses breathe using gills and have a swim bladder to control their buoyancy, thus categorizing them as fish.Seahorses have interlocking plates on the outside of their body, and these plates cover their spine (Kennedy 1). While they have no tail fins, seahorses have 4 other fins: one at the base of the tail, one under the belly and one behind each cheek (Kennedy 1). Most seahorses range in size from six to twelve inches, although most seahorses fall in the 6-inch category. The color range of sea horses is vast. They can be white, yellow, red, brown, black, gray, spotted or banded. Although they are bony fish, they do not have scales, but rather thin skin stretched over a sequence of bony plates, which are arranged in rings all over their bodies (Dive 1). Each species has a diverse number of rings. Sea horses are patched together with many diverse parts and abilities of other aquatic animals. They have the head of a horse with the snout of an aardvark. The tube-shaped snoutis made of an upper and lower jaw, both of which are toothless. The seahorse opens and closes its jaw in a rapid snapping movement while lowering the floor of its mouth to intense the volume. The snout is designed to suck up microscopic animals that live in the sea (Dive 1). These creatures include small crustaceans, brine shrimp, zooplankton, worms and other invertebrates (Dive 1). Seahorses usually ambush these …show more content…
Four species are established in Pacific waters from North America to South America. Seahorses inhabit coral reefs and sea grass beds, some inhabit brackish or freshwater habitat (Kennedy 3). They prefer sheltered areas and are well camouflaged. Seahorses are usually spotted in tropical, subtropical and temperate ocean waters although some species have been found that have penetrated into the northern regions (Dive 3). Data is lacking on the sizes of the various seahorse populations, as well as other issues including how many seahorses are dying each year, how many are being born, and the amount used for souvenirs. There is insufficient information to assess their risk of extinction, and the risk of losing more seahorses remains a concern. Some species, such as the Paradoxical Seahorse, H. paradoxus, may already be extinct (Dive 3). Coral reefs and sea grass beds are deteriorating, reducing viable habitats for seahorses.Seahorse populations are thought to be endangered as a result of overfishing and habitat destruction. Despite anabsence of scientific studies or clinical trial,the consumption of seahorses for medicinal purposes is widespread in China. They are used in traditional Chinese medicineprimarily for the treatment of impotence, wheezing, nocturnal enuresis, and pain, as well as to
Rachel Smith
Biology 104
03 April 2015 Seahorses are majestic creatures that roam the aquatic depths and fascinate mankind with their unique body type. Seahorse is the name given to fifty-four species of small aquatic fishes in the genus Hippocampus. "Hippocampus" comes from the Ancient Greek word hippos meaning "horse" and kampos meaning "sea monster". Seahorses are also classified as Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Sub-phylum Vertebrata, Class Osteichthyes and Order Perciformes (All 1). They are also categorized in the Family Syngnathidae, which includes pipefish and sea dragons (Kennedy 1). Seahorses are extraordinary sea creatures with unique body characteristics, reproduces in a distinctive way, and they are in jeopardy …show more content…
Seahorses breathe using gills and have a swim bladder to control their buoyancy, thus categorizing them as fish.Seahorses have interlocking plates on the outside of their body, and these plates cover their spine (Kennedy 1). While they have no tail fins, seahorses have 4 other fins: one at the base of the tail, one under the belly and one behind each cheek (Kennedy 1). Most seahorses range in size from six to twelve inches, although most seahorses fall in the 6-inch category. The color range of sea horses is vast. They can be white, yellow, red, brown, black, gray, spotted or banded. Although they are bony fish, they do not have scales, but rather thin skin stretched over a sequence of bony plates, which are arranged in rings all over their bodies (Dive 1). Each species has a diverse number of rings. Sea horses are patched together with many diverse parts and abilities of other aquatic animals. They have the head of a horse with the snout of an aardvark. The tube-shaped snoutis made of an upper and lower jaw, both of which are toothless. The seahorse opens and closes its jaw in a rapid snapping movement while lowering the floor of its mouth to intense the volume. The snout is designed to suck up microscopic animals that live in the sea (Dive 1). These creatures include small crustaceans, brine shrimp, zooplankton, worms and other invertebrates (Dive 1). Seahorses usually ambush these …show more content…
Four species are established in Pacific waters from North America to South America. Seahorses inhabit coral reefs and sea grass beds, some inhabit brackish or freshwater habitat (Kennedy 3). They prefer sheltered areas and are well camouflaged. Seahorses are usually spotted in tropical, subtropical and temperate ocean waters although some species have been found that have penetrated into the northern regions (Dive 3). Data is lacking on the sizes of the various seahorse populations, as well as other issues including how many seahorses are dying each year, how many are being born, and the amount used for souvenirs. There is insufficient information to assess their risk of extinction, and the risk of losing more seahorses remains a concern. Some species, such as the Paradoxical Seahorse, H. paradoxus, may already be extinct (Dive 3). Coral reefs and sea grass beds are deteriorating, reducing viable habitats for seahorses.Seahorse populations are thought to be endangered as a result of overfishing and habitat destruction. Despite anabsence of scientific studies or clinical trial,the consumption of seahorses for medicinal purposes is widespread in China. They are used in traditional Chinese medicineprimarily for the treatment of impotence, wheezing, nocturnal enuresis, and pain, as well as to