Jump to content

Hippocampus planifrons

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

False-eye seahorse
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Syngnathidae
Genus: Hippocampus
Species:
H. planifrons
Binomial name
Hippocampus planifrons
Peters, 1877
Synonyms[1]
  • Hippocampus biocellatus Kuiter, 2001

The false-eye seahorse, or flatface seahorse (Hippocampus planifrons) is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is endemic to Australia, from Shark Bay to Broome, where it is found in intertidal rockpools, shallow algae and weedy or rubble reef habitats.[1] It is expected to feed on harpacticoid, calanoid, and cyclopoid copepods, caridean and gammaridean shrimps, and mysids, similar to other seahorses. This species is ovoviviparous, with males brooding eggs in a brood pouch before giving birth to live young.[1]

Identifying features

[edit]

H. planifrons is usually around 7 centimetres (2.8 in) long, but can grow to 12 centimetres (4.7 in). It is characterized by a relatively small head, short and upturned snout, slender trunk, slightly raised coronet, and spines. Female colouration in life is overall greenish brown with dark blotching over the back of the trunk and tail.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Pollom, R. (2017). "Hippocampus planifrons". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T68527310A47728827. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T68527310A47728827.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ Dianne J. Bray, Hippocampus planifrons in Fishes of Australia, accessed 17 Feb 2018, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1537

Further reading

[edit]