Potbelly Seahorse, Hippocampus bleekeri Fowler, 1908
The Potbelly Seahorse looks similar to the Bigbelly Seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis. The two species can be separated by the Bigbelly Seahorse's shorter snout, the more common presence of head filaments in the Potbelly Seahorse, and their disjunct distributions.
Introduction
About the Potbelly Seahorse
The Potbelly Seahorse is one of the largest species of seahorses, growing to 30 cm in length. It has more tail rings than any other seahorse species, a low coronet, and as the common name implies, adults have very big 'bellies'. The colouration of the Potbelly Seahorse is variable. It can be grey, brown, orange, yellow. It often has dark spots and long filaments on the head or body. The colouration appears correlated with habitat.
Identification
What does the Potbelly Seahorse look like?
The Potbelly Seahorse has more tail rings than any other seahorse species, a low coronet, and as the common name implies, adults have very big 'bellies'.
The colouration of the Potbelly Seahorse is variable. It can be grey, brown, orange, yellow. It often has dark spots and long filaments on the head or body. The colouration appears correlated with habitat.
Habitat
Where does the Potbelly Seahorse live?
The species lives in a range of habitats from shallow areas of seagrass to deeper sponge gardens.
Distribution
Where is the Potbelly Seahorse found?
The Potbelly Seahorse is an endemic species that occurs in temperate marine waters from the eastern Victoria and Tasmania to South Australia.
The map linked below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.
Map link: Atlas of Living Australia.
References
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and their Relatives. A Comprehensive Guide to Syngnathiformes. TMC Publishing Pp. 240.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2001. Revision of the Australian Seahorses of the Genus Hippocampus (Syngnathiformes: Syngnathidae) with Descriptions of Nine New Species. Records of the Australian Museum. 53: 293-340.
