Hippocampus denise, also known as Denise's pygmy seahorse[3] or the yellow pygmy seahorse, is a seahorse of the familySyngnathidae native to the western Pacific.
Denise's pygmy seahorse is a small fish which can reach a maximum length of approximately 2.4 cm, which makes it one of the smallest representatives of the seahorses.[4] This pygmy seahorse has a short snout, slender body with a prehensile tail. Its body is either completely smooth or provided with some polyp-like tubercles, in which case these are fewer and less developed than Hippocampus bargibanti. Its coloration ranges from yellow, more or less bright, to orange with often small dark spots and sometimes darker bands on the tail.[5]
Denise's pygmy seahorse uses adaptive camouflage, changing its color to match that of the surrounding gorgonians.[4] It feeds on small crustaceans and other zooplankton.[6] An individual will stay on a single coral for the duration of its entire life. The species is ovoviviparous, and it is the male who broods the eggs in its ventral brood pouch. The latter includes villi rich in capillaries that surround each fertilized egg creating a sort of placenta supplying the embryos. When fully grown, pups are expelled from the pocket and become autonomous.[5] Males have been recorded as giving birth to 6-7 pups after 11 days of gestation, and carrying out four sequential pregnancies of the same gestation length.[7]
Conservation statusedit
The species is relatively rare and only few data relating to the population as well as its actual distribution exist. Because of this lack of information and the rarity of the species, Denise's pygmy seahorse is currently classified as Data Deficient by the IUCN.[1] Internationally, it is also listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) this means that it is on the list of species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.[1]
Namingedit
The common name and the specific name honour the diver and underwater photographer Denise Tackett, who died in 2015; she was diving with Sara Lourie, one of the describers of H. denise, when she first encountered this species in the Lembeh Strait in 1999.[8]
Referencesedit
^ abcKuo, T.-C.; Pollom, R. (2017). "Hippocampus denise". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T41716A54909161. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T41716A54909161.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
^Scales, Helen (2009). Poseidon's Steed: The Story of Seahorses, From Myth to Reality. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 136. ISBN978-1-101-13376-7. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
^ abcFroese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2015). "Hippocampus denise" in FishBase. 10 2015 version.
^ abcLourie, S.A.; Randall, J.E. (2003). "A New Pygmy Seahorse, Hippocampus denise (Teleostei: Syngnathidae), from the Indo-Pacific". Zoological Studies. 42 (2): 284–291.
^"Denise' Pygmy Seahorse, Hippocampus denise Lourie & Randall 2003". Fishes Of Australia. Archived from the original on 2015-11-20. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
^Smith, R. E.; Tibbetts, I. R. (2008). "Mating and birth of Denise's pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus denise) observed in the wild". Coral Reefs. 27 (3): 617. doi:10.1007/s00338-008-0373-8.
^Sara Lourie (12 January 2016). . Project Seahorse. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hippocampus denise.
Photos of Denise's pygmy seahorse on Sealife Collection
January 01, 1970
denise, pygmy, seahorse, hippocampus, denise, also, known, yellow, pygmy, seahorse, seahorse, family, syngnathidae, native, western, pacific, raja, ampat, conservation, status, data, deficient, iucn, cites, appendix, cites, scientific, classification, domain, . Hippocampus denise also known as Denise s pygmy seahorse 3 or the yellow pygmy seahorse is a seahorse of the family Syngnathidae native to the western Pacific Denise s pygmy seahorse at Raja Ampat Conservation status Data Deficient IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix II CITES 2 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Syngnathiformes Family Syngnathidae Genus Hippocampus Species H denise Binomial name Hippocampus deniseLourie amp Randall 2003 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Biology 4 Conservation status 5 Naming 6 References 7 External linksDescription editDenise s pygmy seahorse is a small fish which can reach a maximum length of approximately 2 4 cm which makes it one of the smallest representatives of the seahorses 4 This pygmy seahorse has a short snout slender body with a prehensile tail Its body is either completely smooth or provided with some polyp like tubercles in which case these are fewer and less developed than Hippocampus bargibanti Its coloration ranges from yellow more or less bright to orange with often small dark spots and sometimes darker bands on the tail 5 Distribution and habitat editThis pygmy seahorse has been reported from several locations in the western Pacific including Indonesia Vanuatu Palau Malaysia the Solomon Islands and Micronesia It can be found at depths between 13 and 100 m generally hiding in fields of gorgonians e g Annella Muricella and Echinogorgia 4 5 Biology editDenise s pygmy seahorse uses adaptive camouflage changing its color to match that of the surrounding gorgonians 4 It feeds on small crustaceans and other zooplankton 6 An individual will stay on a single coral for the duration of its entire life The species is ovoviviparous and it is the male who broods the eggs in its ventral brood pouch The latter includes villi rich in capillaries that surround each fertilized egg creating a sort of placenta supplying the embryos When fully grown pups are expelled from the pocket and become autonomous 5 Males have been recorded as giving birth to 6 7 pups after 11 days of gestation and carrying out four sequential pregnancies of the same gestation length 7 Conservation status editThe species is relatively rare and only few data relating to the population as well as its actual distribution exist Because of this lack of information and the rarity of the species Denise s pygmy seahorse is currently classified as Data Deficient by the IUCN 1 Internationally it is also listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES this means that it is on the list of species not necessarily threatened with extinction but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival 1 Naming editThe common name and the specific name honour the diver and underwater photographer Denise Tackett who died in 2015 she was diving with Sara Lourie one of the describers of H denise when she first encountered this species in the Lembeh Strait in 1999 8 References edit a b c Kuo T C Pollom R 2017 Hippocampus denise IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T41716A54909161 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 3 RLTS T41716A54909161 en Retrieved 14 November 2021 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 Scales Helen 2009 Poseidon s Steed The Story of Seahorses From Myth to Reality Penguin Publishing Group p 136 ISBN 978 1 101 13376 7 Retrieved 9 June 2019 a b c Froese Rainer Pauly Daniel eds 2015 Hippocampus denise in FishBase 10 2015 version a b c Lourie S A Randall J E 2003 A New Pygmy Seahorse Hippocampus denise Teleostei Syngnathidae from the Indo Pacific Zoological Studies 42 2 284 291 Denise Pygmy Seahorse Hippocampus denise Lourie amp Randall 2003 Fishes Of Australia Archived from the original on 2015 11 20 Retrieved 2015 10 20 Smith R E Tibbetts I R 2008 Mating and birth of Denise s pygmy seahorses Hippocampus denise observed in the wild Coral Reefs 27 3 617 doi 10 1007 s00338 008 0373 8 Sara Lourie 12 January 2016 In memory of Denise Tackett Project Seahorse Archived from the original on 20 May 2018 Retrieved 19 May 2018 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hippocampus denise Photos of Denise s pygmy seahorse on Sealife Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Denise 27s pygmy seahorse amp oldid 1199208542, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
