Whites Seahorse (Hippocampus whitei)

The White's Seahorse (Hippocampus whitei) is an extremely shy species that belongs to the syngnathid family that includes pipefish, seahorses and sea dragons. The male Whites Seahorse carries eggs in pouch-like openings or beneath their tails and only the males care for the young. In seahorses, pregnancy lasts about two weeks to one month, the length decreasing with increasing temperature. At the end of gestation the male goes into labour (usually at night), pumping and thrusting for hours to release his brood. Young are miniature adult seahorses, independent from birth, and receive no further parental care. Newborns of most species measure between 7 and 12 mm. Most males give birth to around 100 200 babies.