Hippocampus kuda: Difference between revisions
Rescuing orphaned refs ("mills" from rev 339339182; "iucn" from rev 339339182) |
Reverted to revision 339339182 by Luckas-bot; rvv. (TW) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Taxobox |
|||
d [[sailors]] to the [[underworld]] - giving them safe passage and protection until they met their soul's destination.<ref> |
|||
| image = Seahorse2.JPG |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| image_caption = ''Seahorse'' |
|||
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
|||
| phylum = [[Chordata]] |
|||
| classis = [[Actinopterygii]] |
|||
| ordo = [[Syngnathiformes]] |
|||
| familia = [[Syngnathidae]] |
|||
| genus = ''[[Hippocampus (fish)| Hippocampus]]'' |
|||
| species = '''''H. kuda''''' |
|||
| binomial = ''Hippocampus kuda'' |
|||
| binomial_authority = Bleeker, 1852<ref name="iucn"> |
|||
{{cite web |url={{IUCNlink|10075}} |title=Hippocampus kuda |publisher=[[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] |work=IUCN red list of threatened species |date=2008 }}</ref> |
{{cite web |url={{IUCNlink|10075}} |title=Hippocampus kuda |publisher=[[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] |work=IUCN red list of threatened species |date=2008 }}</ref> |
||
}} |
|||
'''''Hippocampus kuda''''', also known as the '''common seahorse''', is a member of the family [[Syngnathidae]] of the order [[Syngnathiformes]]. The common sea horse is a small, [[equine]]-like fish, with extraordinary breeding methods.<ref name="mills"> |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
</ref> [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]] and [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] believed the seahorse was an attribute of the sea god [[Poseidon]]/[[Neptune]], and the seahorse was considered a symbol of strength and power. [[Europe|Europeans]] believed that the seahorse carried the souls of deceased [[sailors]] to the [[underworld]] - giving them safe passage and protection until they met their soul's destination.<ref> |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
== Reproduction == |
== Reproduction == |
||
| Line 9: | Line 25: | ||
==Habitat and distribution== |
==Habitat and distribution== |
||
The common seahorse inhabits shallow coastal waters throughout the [[Indo-Pacific]] oceans.<ref name="mills"> |
The common seahorse inhabits shallow coastal waters throughout the [[Indo-Pacific]] oceans.<ref name="mills"/> In the wild seahorse are found mainly among coral reefs, and shallow estuaries. They use their tails to anchor themselves to coral branches.<ref name="ult-enc"/> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
</ref> In the wild seahorse are found mainly among coral reefs, and shallow estuaries. They use their tails to anchor themselves to coral branches.<ref name="ult-enc"/> |
|||
== Physical description == |
== Physical description == |
||
Revision as of 19:43, 9 March 2010
| Hippocampus kuda | |
|---|---|
| |
| Seahorse | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | H. kuda
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hippocampus kuda Bleeker, 1852[1]
| |
Hippocampus kuda, also known as the common seahorse, is a member of the family Syngnathidae of the order Syngnathiformes. The common sea horse is a small, equine-like fish, with extraordinary breeding methods.[2] Greeks and Romans believed the seahorse was an attribute of the sea god Poseidon/Neptune, and the seahorse was considered a symbol of strength and power. Europeans believed that the seahorse carried the souls of deceased sailors to the underworld - giving them safe passage and protection until they met their soul's destination.[3] The common seahorse is considered a vulnerable species.[1]
Reproduction
The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch on his lower abdomen. After courtship the pair come close together so that the female's oviduct is close to, if not resting on, the brood pouch of the male, and the female expels some eggs into the pouch. This happens several times until spawning is complete. The male then wiggles about, as if to rearrange the eggs within his pouch. The exact point at which fertilization takes place is not known, though many assume that it occurs while the eggs are in the pouch. The incubation period is generally four to five weeks. To "give birth" the male bends forwards and then backwards, thrusting his pouch forward expelling one or two youngsters with explosive force. Raising the fry in an aquarium is difficult, as they require a large amount of minuscule live food.[4]
Habitat and distribution
The common seahorse inhabits shallow coastal waters throughout the Indo-Pacific oceans.[2] In the wild seahorse are found mainly among coral reefs, and shallow estuaries. They use their tails to anchor themselves to coral branches.[4]
Physical description
The sea horse's swimming position is vertical, with slight inclinations forward or backward, depending on direction of travel. The body is covered with armored plates. An equinelike head set at right angles to the body ends in a long tubular snout. A bony "coronet" may develop on the head.[2] The male seahorse has a small pouch used for carrying fertilised eggs in its lower abdomen. Females are also slightly smaller.[2]
Aquarium care
Common seahorses have very small mouths, therefore it is important to provide small foods like brine shrimp and even newborn guppies. Seahorses need to eat frequently-almost five times a day. Many aquarists who have kept this species opted to cultivate their own brine shrimp, and rotifers. Daphnia is also eaten when other foods are unavailable.[4]
Seahorses spend most of their time anchored to coral reefs and branches by their tails, due to the fact that they are very poor swimmers. In the aquarium, anchor points must be given. Seahorses like a quiet tank, with no large, belligerent fish, and a slow-moving current. Aquarists have found them to be generally accepting of tankmates like Siniperca (mandarins) and other bottom dwelling fishes.[4]
Temperature, pH, and salinity
Common seahorse generally do best at a temperature of 72°F-77°F, with around 73°F-75°F being their optimum temp. They do not tolerate temperature spikes above 80°F well.[5] Their optimal pH range is around 8.1-8.4..[6] The common seahorse can tolerate a range of salinity from a minimum of 18 parts per thousand (ppt) to a maximum of 36ppt but living conditions below about 25ppt should be promptly corrected. About 32 ppt is ideal.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Hippocampus kuda". IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2008.
- ^ a b c d Mills, Dick. Aquarium Fish: The visual guide to more than 500 marine and freshwater fish varieties. Eyewitness Handbooks. p. 281.
- ^ Venefica, A. "Symbolic Meaning of the Seahorse". Whats-Your-Sign.com.
- ^ a b c d
Bailey, Mary. The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Aquarium Fish & Fish Care. p. 239.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Giwojna, Pete (16 January 2006). "Re:KH is killing me!". Seahorse Forums. Ocean Rider Club.
- ^ Giwojna, Pete (6 January 2006). "Re:Maybe Seahorses?". Seahorse Forums. Ocean Rider Club.
- ^ "Setting up your seahorse aquarium". Seahorse Australia.