Ok, so we've looked in the tide pool, now let's really get our feet wet in the sea grass and coral reefs, this is where we will find SEAHORSES!!!
There are 32 species of seahorses, mainly found in shallow tropical and temperate waters around the world. They prefer to live in sheltered areas such as sea grass beds, coral reefs, and mangroves. They can be very small (1 inch) or large (1 foot)
Although seahorses are fish, they do not have scales, instead they have a thin skin stretched over a series of bony plates arranged in rings throughout their bodies. Seahorses swim upright rather than horizontal. Each seahorse has a coronet on their head, which is distinct to each one, much like a finger print. Because they are poor swimmers, they are most likely to be found resting in seagrasses or coral reefs with their tails wound around a stationary object. They have long snouts, which they use to suck up food, like small shrimp, tiny fish and plankton. Their eyes can move independantly of each other like a chameleon.
When two seahorses discover a mutual interest at the beginning of breeding season, they court for several days. During this time they change color, swim side by side holding tails or grip the same strand of seagrass with their tails and wheel around in unison in what is known as their "pre-dawn dance". They eventually engage in their "true courtship dance" lasting about 8 hours, during which the male pumps water through the egg pouch on his trunk which expands and opens to display appealing emptiness. When the females eggs are mature , she and her mate let go of any anchors and snout to snout, drift upward out of the seagrass, often spiraling as they rise. The female deposits her eggs as the male fertilizes them. The male carries their eggs two to four weeks. Then small fry are spouted out and on their own.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3XJF-uY8SQ
