Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body elongate, compressed; head at angle to body, bent downwards; snout tubular; mouth small; tail coiled with no caudal fin; color variable black, gray, brown, green, orange, red to yellow, mottled; dark and light lines on head and neck, sometimes tiny white dots on body; body with armored plates forming rings around body; may have fleshy tabs covering body, with longer cirri on head and back; many projections or spines on neck, body and back of tail; 1-2 cheek spines located diagonally down from the eye; snout about 1/2 length of the head; pectoral fins at eye level on head; eyes can move independently of each other. |
Similar Species |
Dwarf seahorse have no markings on their bodies; longsnout seahorse has a longer snout and distinct blotches on its body. |
Habitat |
Gulf and bay, prefers coral reefs, seagrasses, floating sargassum |
Maximum Size |
19 cm (7 1/2 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
D. 16-19; A. 3-4 (explain) |
Other Common Names |
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Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
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State size/bag limits |
None; Check for state record. |