Hippocampus paradoxus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hippocampus paradoxus |
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The paradoxical seahorse (Hippocampus paradoxus) is a small and very unusual type of seahorse. It belongs to the group of animals called Hippocampus. This seahorse is quite special because it looks very different from other seahorses. The only known specimen was found in 1995 but wasn't studied until 2006.
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What Makes This Seahorse Special?
The name paradoxus means "paradoxical" or "unexpected." This name was chosen because the seahorse looks so different from all other seahorses in its group. It is most like another seahorse called H. minotaur.
Like all seahorses, males and females of this species look a bit different. This is called sexual dimorphism. Scientists believe that the male seahorse carries its babies in a special pouch. This pouch might be on the front of its body, near the tail, connecting to its chest. This idea comes from how similar it is to H. minotaur. However, no male paradoxical seahorses have been found yet, so this is still a theory.
Appearance of the Paradoxical Seahorse
The only known paradoxical seahorse is a female. It is about 6.5 centimeters (2.5 inches) tall. This seahorse has 8 rings on its body and 11 rays on its chest fins.
A unique feature of this seahorse is the series of flaps or "lobes" that look like small fins. These lobes cover most of its body, starting near the middle of its body and going all the way to the end of its tail. The first lobe looks like a small back fin, but it isn't a real fin. Unlike all other seahorses, the paradoxical seahorse does not have a dorsal fin (a fin on its back).
The only specimen found is a yellow-cream color with small brown spots. However, its color might have changed because it was kept in a special liquid called formaldehyde. So, we don't know its true color in the wild.
Where It Lives
The only known paradoxical seahorse was found southwest of Esperance, Western Australia. This area is on the western edge of the Great Australian Bight. The exact spot where it was collected was near 34°12′S 121°32′E / 34.200°S 121.533°E.
Its Home in the Ocean
This seahorse was found deep in the ocean, about 102 meters (335 feet) down. It was living on the ocean floor, which is called the benthic zone. The bottom of the ocean there was sandy.
The area where it was found had many different types of sea creatures. These included bryozoans (tiny colonial animals), lace corals, and sponges. The water in this part of the ocean is usually quite warm.
See also
In Spanish: Hippocampus paradoxus para niños
