Korean seahorse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Korean seahorse |
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The Korean seahorse, known scientifically as Hippocampus haema, is a special type of seahorse. It belongs to the family Syngnathidae, which includes other interesting fish like pipefishes. This seahorse lives in the northern Pacific Ocean, especially around the Korea Strait and the Sea of Japan.
You can usually find Korean seahorses in shallow waters, from the surface down to about 18 meters deep. They like to hide among seaweed, like Sargassum, and other plants on soft, sandy seabeds.
Contents
About the Korean Seahorse
Where They Live
The Korean seahorse is very common in the waters around Korea. It prefers shallow areas where there are lots of seaweeds and soft bottoms. These habitats provide good places for them to hide from predators and find food.
What They Look Like
Adult Korean seahorses usually grow to be about 6 to 8 centimeters long. Some can even reach up to 11 centimeters! Young seahorses, called juveniles, are much smaller, typically 1 to 5 centimeters.
Males and females of this species look a little different. This is called sexual dimorphism. For example, males have a longer tail compared to females of the same size. Females, on the other hand, have a longer body or "trunk."
How They Got Their Name
The scientific name, Hippocampus haema, comes from the Korean word for "seahorse," which is 'haema'. This shows how important and common this seahorse is in Korean waters.
For a while, scientists sometimes confused the Korean seahorse with other similar species, like the crowned seahorse (Hippocampus coronatus) or Shiho's seahorse. However, after careful study, it was discovered that these other species don't actually live in Korean waters. So, in 2017, scientists gave this unique seahorse its own new scientific name, Hippocampus haema.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Breeding Season
Korean seahorses have a breeding season that lasts for about seven months. This usually happens from May to November. The breeding season is linked to warmer water temperatures, which are perfect for seahorse reproduction.
Male and female seahorses are ready to have babies when they are about 5 centimeters long. Even very young seahorses, around 2 centimeters, can be identified as male or female by looking closely at their bodies.
Images for kids
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Male (left) and female (right) Hippocampus haema
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Mating behaviour of Hippocampus haema
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Juvenile Hippocampus haema
