Fun Hedgehog Seahorse Facts For Kids

The hedgehog seahorse, from the family of Syngnathidae, is a unique fish that can be distinguished by its spiny body, forward-curled tail, thin skin, elongated head, long snout, and brooding organ attached to the male body. 

The family of the Hippocampus spinosissimus includes over 32 species of seahorses found around the world. The species is a coral-loving sea animal that tends to be found around coral reefs systems and attaches its tail to seaweed rafts while camouflaging around vegetation.

They typically feed on small planktonic invertebrates and crustaceans. The Hippocampus spinosissimus is a species that can be found in the vast length of coastal waters in India, Taiwan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and northern Australia.

If you liked reading about this seahorse species then we suggest you read check out these awesome goblin shark facts and lined seahorse facts.

Hedgehog Seahorse Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a hedgehog seahorse?

The hedgehog seahorse (Hippocampus spinosissimus) is a species of fish that is usually found on coastal sandy seabeds at a depth of 230 ft (70 m). It belongs to the family of Syngnathidae. 

What class of animal does a hedgehog seahorse belong to?

The hedgehog seahorse (Hippocampus spinosissimus) belongs to the Actinopterygii class of sea animals from the family of Syngnathidae under the genus Hippocampus. 

How many hedgehog seahorses are there in the world?

There is no accurate population count for the species. However, there has been a frequent decline in its population for the past 10 years with 80% of it resulting due to overfishing and targeted fishing in the central Philippines. 

Where does a hedgehog seahorse live?

A hedgehog seahorse (Hippocampus spinosissimus) lives in barren sandy bottoms and mud surrounding the continental shelves close to the shore and coral reef systems found in Indonesia, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, and other nearby coastlines. They can also be found living in seaweed rafts by attaching their tails to the vegetation. They are widespread in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. 

What is a hedgehog seahorse's habitat?

The Hippocampus spinosissimus lives around a wide range of habitats located over sandy bottoms in the Philippines, Taiwan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and similar locations. They can be found in a maximum depth of 230 ft (70 m) where they live among sea stars, sea urchins, octocorals, sea pens, macroalgae, and submerged wood.

Who does a hedgehog seahorse live with?

A hedgehog seahorse is usually found living with its partner in the water but, since many people keep them as pets, they can live with humans as well. 

How long does a hedgehog seahorse live?

The life expectancy range of the threatened hedgehog seahorse (Hippocampus spinosissimus) is about one to five years.

How do they reproduce?

The Hedgehog seahorse (Hippocampus spinosissimus) is a species of ovoviviparous fish where members have this unique way of giving birth. The females are responsible for laying eggs and then transferring them to the enclosed brood pouch on their partner's stomach through an ovipositor.

The males keep the eggs in their pouch and protect them until the eggs fertilize. After a length of time, the males giving birth to the babies before leaving them to fend for themselves.

What is their conservation status?

According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the hedgehog seahorse (Hippocampus spinosissimus) is classified as a threatened Vulnerable species. 

Hedgehog Seahorse Fun Facts

What do hedgehog seahorses look like?

The Hippocampus spinosissimus is a small marine fish of about 4.9 in (12.5 cm) in length.

It has a long snout that may be orange, red, or dark brown in color along with a low coronet. The seahorse also has a dark front in its head with pale gray bands or saddles over its tail and trunk.

It lives in the deep waters of the ocean and is usually orange and red in color, which is why it is easier for them to camouflage in the deeper length of corals and sponges.

How cute are they?

The threatened Hippocampus species exhibit a very fond relationship with their partners. They choose one partner throughout the length of time and stay with them forever. They look very cute together when they are both pregnant with their pot bellies or when they swim side by side holding tails and dancing around during their breeding rituals. 

How do they communicate?

The Hedgehog seahorse communicates through their body parts, mostly seen through their courting rituals where they prefer swimming side by side with their partners while holding or gripping their tails and circling around in a similar pattern known as the pre-dawn dance. They, later on, engage in the true courtship dance that lasts for about eight hours.

They also touch their snouts and spiral during the ritual. The partners are also known to visit each other at different intervals to check how the other one is doing.

The species also change color and movements in other forms of communicative habits. 

How big is a hedgehog seahorse?

A hedgehog seahorse is 0.6-13.9 in (1.5-35.5 cm) tall and 4.9 in (12.5 cm) in length.

How fast can a hedgehog seahorse move?

Unlike other marine fish, the spiny seahorse is not only slow but a bad swimmer. They have the tiniest fins in the middle of their backs. They are also known to be quite delicate and fragile which is why they can get very exhausted during rough sea storms and long traveling hours.

How much does a hedgehog seahorse weigh?

The Hippocampus species weighs about 0.44-1 lb (200-453 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no sex-specific names for hedgehog seahorses.

What would you call a baby hedgehog seahorse?

A baby hedgehog seahorse is called a fry. 

What do they eat?

A hedgehog seahorse eats aquatic crustaceans and planktonic invertebrates along with small fishes found around its habitat. On the other hand, the species falls prey to predators like crabs, big fishes, andstingrays. 

Are they poisonous?

Yes, even though they might not look dangerous at all, seahorses are one of the deadliest marine species living in the world and are poisonous. 

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, a spiny seahorse is usually kept as a pet in many aquariums and it has been seen that they have a better chance of survival in captive breeding than in the wild but, keeping one as a pet will require a lot of attention as they have specific needs and a lot of expensive materials to live happily so, special care must be given to ensure that they do not die of poor health and negligence.

Did you know...

Sea horses do not have stomachs like other marine fish which is why the structure of their digestive systems is quite unique on its own. A seahorse's digestive mechanism is extraordinarily fast as the species feeds on a carnivorous diet continuously resulting in a large appetite.

They can eat up to 3000 crustaceans, such as shrimps, in a single day. Talk about having a large appetite for a small creature!

How long does it take for seahorses to grow?

Seahorses usually take about five to seven months of age to grow into their mature length, which is estimated at around 4.1 in (10.4 cm). 

Do seahorses spawn?

Yes, similar to sardinesand yellowfin tuna, seahorses spawn during their breeding season where they release a large number of eggs, as many as 2,000 babies, which later on is transferred into the male seahorse's brood pouch, where it is incubated and born. 

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these longhorn cowfish facts and freshwater butterflyfish facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable realistic hedgehog seahorse coloring pages.