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Hippocampus ingens Girard, 1858

Pacific seahorse

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Image of Hippocampus ingens (Pacific seahorse)
Hippocampus ingens
Picture by Lavan, J.

Mexico country information

Common names: Caballito de mar, Caballito del Pacifico
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Known from Mazatlan (Ref. 30915). Also Ref. 115213.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/mx.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann, 1983
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Giant Seahorse, Caballito del Pacifico, Caballito de mar, ... more

Classification / Names Populärnamn | synonymer | Catalog of Fishes(Släkte, Arter) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

> Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and seahorses) > Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses) > Syngnathinae
Etymology: Hippocampus: Greek, ippos = horse + Greek,kampe = curvature (Ref. 45335).
  More on author: Girard.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ekologi

marina revassocierade; ej vandrande; djupintervall 0 - 60 m (Ref. 30915), usually 3 - 18 m (Ref. 5227).   Subtropical; 37°N - 22°S, 123°W - 70°W

Utbredning Länder | FAO områden | Ekosystem | Förekomster | Point map | Utplanteringar | Faunafri

Eastern Pacific: confirmed records from San Diego in California, USA to Peru including the Galapagos Islands. Reported from the San Francisco Bay by Alexander Agassiz (Ron Fritzsche, pers.comm. 08/09).

Length at first maturity / Size / Vikt / Age

Maturity: Lm 5.4  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 30.0 cm TL hane/ej könsbestämd; (Ref. 2850)

Short description Bestämningsnycklar | Morfologi | Morfometri

Taggstrålar i ryggfenan (totalt) : 0; Mjukstrålar i ryggfenan (totalt) : 18 - 21.

Biologi     Ordlista (t.ex. epibenthic)

Nocturnal. Occur in offshore waters, mostly captured by dredging at 10 m or deeper. Occasionally caught at surface. Are often camouflaged within the branches of gorgonians and black coral trees where they are seen to curl their tail around the branches (Ref. 5227). Have been found in the stomachs of Pacific yellowfin tuna and bluefin tuna (Ref. 30915). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduktion | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larver

Male carries the eggs in a brood pouch (Ref. 205). Gestation period is 14-15 days depending on temperature (Ref. 30915).

Main reference Upload your references | referenser | Koordinator | Medarbetare

Lourie, S.A., R.A. Pollom and S.J. Foster, 2016. A global revision of the seahorses Hippocampus Rafinesque 1810 (Actinopterygii: Syngnathiformes): taxonomy and biogeography with recommendations for further research. Zootaxa 4146(1):1-66. (Ref. 115213)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Sårbar, se IUCNs rödlista (VU) (A2cd); Date assessed: 05 December 2016

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Appendix II: International trade monitored

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless




Human uses


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