The lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) is a member of the pipefish family (Syngnathidae) and belongs to the genus of true seahorses. Seahorses are distributed along the coastal waters of tropical and temperate climate zones, where they inhabit algal beds. They are most commonly found in shallow waters along coastlines, in river deltas, and in shallow lagoons.
Although these animals are poor swimmers, they are well adapted for survival. Their greenish or yellowish coloration allows them to camouflage among aquatic vegetation, aiding both in feeding and in avoiding predators. They feed on small crustaceans such as amphipods, mysids, and small crabs. Each day, they may spend up to 10 hours feeding and, by sucking in prey together with water, can capture as many as 3,600 crustaceans.
Lined seahorses are monogamous. The female deposits her eggs into a specialized brood pouch located beneath the male’s tail. The male carries 102–197 eggs in the pouch for approximately 20 days. Population size in lined seahorses is influenced by their biological characteristics—such as monogamy, early sexual maturity, and a short generation time—as well as by unfavorable environmental conditions exacerbated by human activity, climate change, and water pollution. Nearly all seahorse species are threatened with extinction: of the 32 known species, as many as 30 are listed in the International Red List. Since 2016, the lined seahorse has been classified as a Vulnerable (VU) species.
