Hippocampus minotaur Gomon, 1997
Bullneck seahorse
Hippocampus minotaur
photo by Lourie, S.A.

 Family:  Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Hippocampinae
 Max. size:  5 cm OT (male/unsexed)
 Environment:  reef-associated; depth range 64 - 100 m, non-migratory
 Distribution:  Southwest Pacific: known only from southeastern Australia. Status: Data deficient (Ref. 30915). International trade is monitored through a licensing system (CITES II, since 5.15.04).
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7. Description: (based on 3 specimens): Adult height: <5.0cm. Rings: 8+41. Snout length: 6.2 in head length. Dorsal fin rays: 7 covering 1+1 rings. Pectoral fin rays: 11. Coronet: low mound. Spines: none, body totally flat. Other distinctive characters: no exaggerated constriction (very thick neck) between head and body; very short snout; huge head; head and body extremely fleshy without recognizable body rings, spines or other ornamentation; ventral trunk ridges undeveloped; body laterally flattened. Color pattern: only preserved specimens have been examined thus far; they are mostly cream, with scattered brown-centered dots.
 Biology:  Found on the continental shelf (Ref. 75154). Trawled from fine sand or hard bottom, possibly in association with gorgonian coral (Ref. 205). Benthic species (Ref. 75154). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
 IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient  (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Froese, Rainer - 10.09.99
 Modified by: OrtaƱez, Auda Kareen - 05.11.08

Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.


Page created by Jen, 05.08.02, php script by kbanasihan 06/09/2010 ,  last modified by dsantos, 20/08/10