Hippocampus erectus
lined seahorse
(Also: spotted seahorse)

Hippocampus erectus is found from Cape Cod (and rarely Nova Scotia), Canada to Argentina and into the Gulf of Mexico. (Aquatic Bookshop)

Hippocampus erectus is strictly marine in habitat, and is found in seaweed and on coral reefs at depths of .5 - 30 m. (Aquatic Bookshop)

The seahorse, including several species in the genus Hippocampus, is one of the most unusual in appearance of all fishes. Its upright position, horse-like head set at right angles to the body, and jointed armor make it resemble a knight in a chess set. The seahorse has a prehensile tail, which it uses to hold onto seaweed and coral. The scales have been replaced by rings of about 50 rectangular bony plates, encasing the body in a semi-rigid skeleton. The eyes can swivel independently or converge to achieve binocular vision. The most distinguishing feature between the male and the female seahorse is the kangaroo-like pouch that the male has on its ventral side, used for reproduction. (Grolier, 1996)

Hippocampus erectus is a large species of seahorse, growing up to 5 inches long. H. erectus is easily separated from other species of seahorse by a pattern of dark lines on a lighter background in its coloring. H. erectus also has 18 to 21 dorsal-fin rays. (Bohlke and Chaplin, 1968, pg. 183)

Hippocampus erectus swims weakly, propelled largely by the rapid motion of its dorsal fin and pectoral fins. H. erectus, when moving from one perch to another, moves so slowly that it would take one about 5 minutes to cross a bathtub. (Grolier, 1996, Schultz, 1948, pg. 12)

The seahorse is unusual in that it actually practices monogamy, meaning that a seahorse will mate exclusively with the same partner during their lifetime. Members of a pair perform greeting dances every morning to confirm their bond and are slow to find a new mate if their partner disappears or dies. (Coral Forest)

Sound-making has a sexual significance in Hippocampus erectus, as it does in all seahorses, which produce snapping or clicking noises by tossing their heads. At the back of the head is a star-shaped bony crest known as the coronet. This has a loose articulation with the rear edge of the skull. When a seahorse suddenly lifts its head, this edge slips under the coronet, and then, as the head is lowered, snaps out, an action which presumably produce the sound. "A mating pair of seahorses consisted of slow swimming, either together or apart, accompanied by occasional noisy snapping of the head. Clicks were often produced alternately by the fishes, and during their actual embrace, these sounds were loud and almost continuous." (Marshall, 1966, 171)

The seahorse, like all of the species of the family Syngnathidae, require living food. They are unable to move rapidly enough to chase their prey. Instead, the seahorse uses its elongated snout to suck in small crustaceans. Seahorses have an almost pinpoint accuracy within the 1 inch range. Young Hippocampus erectus may feed for as long as ten hours of each day and consume up to 3600 baby brine shrimp during that time. (Herald, 1961, pg. 147; Moyle and Cech,1982, pg. 294)

Worldwide there is a huge demand for seahorses for traditional Chinese medicine and the aquarium trade. Seahorses are considered a powerful aphrodisiac and are used to treat an array of ailments including asthma, impotence, infertility, throat infections and lethargy. Seahorses are also extremely popular in the aquarium trade and as tourist curios. (Coral Forest)

Seahorse populations in the wild could vanish if they continue to be exploited for traditional Chinese medicines, the aquarium trade, and as tourist curios. Countless seahorses are also lost every year with the destruction of their coral reef, sea grass, and mangrove habitats. More than 20 million seahorses are collected each year, causing some seahorse populations to crash by 50% over the last five years. These and other results from the first major study of the international trade in seahorses released by TRAFFIC, a global wildlife trade monitoring group, suggest that Hippocampus erectus should be considered threatened. (Coral Forest)

Seahorses are also known for their prehensile tails. In the first two weeks or month of life, a young seahorse is extremely agile and may bend the tail backward in a reverse crescent, but the tail is prehensile only in a forward direction. Adult seahorses seldom carry the tail in a straight position, usually having it coiled forward. (Marshall, 1966, pg. 37)