Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and seahorses) >
Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses) > Hippocampinae
Etymology: Hippocampus: Greek, ippos = horse + Greek,kampe = curvature (Ref. 45335); biocellatus: From the Latin bi meaning two, and ocellus meaning eye, in reference to the double eye-like spot on its back.
Issue
This species is a synonym of Hippocampus planifrons Peters, 11877 according to Lourie et al., 2016 (Ref. 115213). This species record will be removed.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 20 m (Ref. 42735). Subtropical, preferred ?
Distribution
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri
Eastern Indian Ocean: known only from the Shark Bay region of Western Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.8 cm OT male/unsexed; (Ref. 42735)
Short description
Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal
spines
(total): 0;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 22-23;
Anal
spines: 0;
Anal
soft rays: 4 - 5. Anal fin rays divided at base; tail rings 36-38; subdorsal spines 4/0,0,1,1 or 5/0,0,1,1,1; nose ridge slightly raised, without a spine; spine above eyes moderately large, angled back and laterally outward; lateral head spine moderately large and recurved; coronet slightly raised, apex with 5 blunt diverging spines; upper shoulder-ring spine of small to moderate size, situated beside gill openings; central shoulder-ring spine of moderate size and directed laterally outward; superior trunk and tail ridges with broad thorn-like blunt spines, enlarged on some rings, at regular intervals; superior tail ridge with tubercle-like spines of moderate size, angled backward; trunk ridges followed by connecting tail ridges with spines and tubercles becoming gradually smaller posteriorly; lateral line with distinct pores, on trunk rings just above lateral ridge, continuing onto tail to 18th-23rd tail ring, each pore between raised papillae (Ref. 42735).
Adults inhabit shallow algae or weedy reef areas from the intertidal to about 20 m depth (Ref. 42735). Maximum length is based on a straight-line length measurement from upper surface (ignoring spines) of first trunk ring, to tip of tail (Ref. 42735). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Male carries the eggs in a brood pouch (Ref. 205).
Kuiter, R.H., 2001. Revision of the Australian seahorses of the genus Hippocampus (Syngnathiformes: Syngnathidae) with descriptions of nine new species. Rec. Aus. Mus. 53:293-340. (Ref. 42735)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
More information
CountriesFAO areasEcosystemsOccurrencesIntroductionsStocksEcologyDietFood itemsFood consumptionRation
Age/SizeGrowthLength-weightLength-lengthLength-frequenciesMorphometricsMorphologyLarvaeLarval dynamicsRecruitmentAbundance
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00427 (0.00168 - 0.01086), b=3.00 (2.78 - 3.22), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.5 se; Based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (11 of 100) .