seahorse

[A]

a walrus  –  a kind of sea mammal with ivory tusks (= large teeth) and stout, cigar-shaped body – related to the seals

[B]

a Greek mythological (imaginary) animal (seahorse) – head and front legs of a horse, and the lower part of the body of a fish

[C]

a kind of fish – sea water finned, bony fish without scales, but with rings of  50 bony plates under the thin skin in some species –  murky brown or grey in colour which changes to bright colours in certain conditions; cone-shaped head that looks like (resembles) that of a horse with a long toothless snout (= mouth and nose part), an organ called ‘cornet’ on the head, an eye on each side of the head, bent neck, long body, a long prehensile tail (= tail that can be used to hold on to objects) like that of a monkey, one fin on the back; size: (varies widely) from ½ inch to 15 inches long, and weight: —; feeds on (eats) very small sea animals, such as shrimp, and fish larvae (baby fish); lives for about 1-4 or even 6 years in the wild; about 35 – 50 (?) species found in the shallow tropical waters throughout the world

male ~~ male

female ~~ female

baby ~~ fry

group ~~ herd

voice (calls) ~~ —

home ~~ {no particular home, but lives in the sea grass beds attaching themselves the strands of sea grass}

Special Features:

The seahorses are peculiar and unique fish!  Everything about a seahorse is amazing!!

A seahorse has a horse-like head; monkey-like tail; kangaroo-like pouch (in males); eyes like that of a chameleon (a kind of lizard), which can be moved independently of each other; and a tube-like snout like an echidna’s (‘echidna’ = an egg laying mammal)!

The seahorse has an organ called ‘coronet’, a bony plate, on its head which is as distinct as a fingerprint on a human finger – each seahorse has a coronet different in shape, size or pattern from the others!

The most amazing feature is that the seahorse is the only animal species in the world in which the male becomes pregnant!!  When a male selects a female, the female, after a long ‘dancing’, deposits her eggs in the open ‘brood pouch’ (= a bag-like skin fold) of the male which then fertilises the eggs and carries them until the fry, the baby seahorses, are ready to come out!!

The seahorses swim upright!  They have only one fin on the back which they move from side to side, and two side fins which are placed on the head behind the eyes!!

Seahorses are masters at camouflage, i.e. they can change their colour, and even their shape, to suit the surroundings!!

Seahorses have no teeth and no stomachs!!

Seahorses are a popular pet fish – the small species are in great demand in several parts of the world, especially in the USA.

The dried seahorses are sold as souvenirs, and also for use in folk medicine, especially in Chinese traditional medicine!!

The seahorse has been associated with the people since Stone Age!!

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