Hippocampus kuda Bleeker, 1852

Spotted seahorse

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Syngnathiformes \| Syngnathidae \| Hippocampinae
Synonyms	Hippocampus aterrimus, Hippocampus chinensis, Hippocampus hilonis, ... more
Common names	Sea horse, Yellow seahorse, Yellow sea horse, ... more

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AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Lourie, S.A., A.C.J. Vincent and H.J. Hall. 1999. (Ref. 30915)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1602)

Length at first maturity

L_m 14.00

Environment

Reef-associated; non-migratory; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 68 m (Ref. 37816)

Climate / Range

Tropical; 39°N - 28°S, 32°E - 154°W (Ref. 57009)

Indo-Pacific: Pakistan and India to southern Japan, Hawaii, and the Society Islands (Ref. 30915). This name is used for maybe 10 distinct species in the Indo-Pacific (Ref. 12238, 30915). International trade is monitored through a licensing system (CITES II, since 5.15.04) and a minimum size of 10 cm applies.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 18; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 4. Description: (based on 80 specimens): Adult height: 7.0-17.0cm. Rings: 11+36 (34-38). Snout length: 2.3 (2.0-2.6) in head length. Dorsal fin rays: 17-18 covering 2+1 rings. Pectoral fin rays: 16 (15-18). Coronet: low-medium, rounded, overhanging at the back, often with a cup-like depression in the top; sometimes with broad flanges; not spiny. Spines: low, rounded bumps only. Other distinctive characters: deep head; deep body; thick snout. Color pattern: often totally black with a grainy texture; alternatively pale yellow or cream with fairly large, dark spots (especially females); may be sandy colored, blending in with the surroundings.

Inhabit seagrass and marine algae areas of estuaries and seaward reefs; also on steep mud slopes. Found in open water and attached to drifting Sargassum up to 20 km from shore. Adults in pairs (Ref. 48635). Benthic to pelagic (Ref. 58302). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The males carry the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Not shown to be monogamous in the laboratory (Ref. 30915). Very popular aquarium fish. Highly valued species in traditional Chinese medicine (Ref. 30915). Has been reared in captivity (Ref. 35416).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Vulnerable (VU) (A4cd)	Harmless

Human uses
Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment Abundance	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

Tools
Biogeographic modelling \| E-book \| Field guide \| Length-frequency wizard \| Life-history tool \| Point map

Special reports
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Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)

PD₅₀ = 0.5000

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=0.6; Fec=20-1000)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Low vulnerability (15 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Capuli, Estelita Emily

Modified by Ortañez, Auda Kareen

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