They are threatened with extinction and CITES prohibits international trade in specimens of these species except when the purpose of the import is not commercial, for instance for scientific research. A female seahorse lays dozens, sometimes hundreds, of eggs in a pouch on the male seahorse’s abdomen. Seahorse populations are thought to be endangered as a result of overfishing and habitat destruction. An aquarium in Sydney reported on Monday, October 12, that a number of White’s seahorses bred in a conservation program were found to be thriving after their release into the wild four months ago. A lot sea horse species are endangered or in the risk of becoming endangered in the near future, and it is therefore important to research the species you are interested in. James R.D. The namesake of John White , Surgeon General to the First Fleet, the White's Seahorse (also known as the Sydney Seahorse) is one of four species of seahorses indigenous to the waters of New … Read on for more seahorse information, including a list of awesome seahorse facts for kids… The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List features 34 seahorse species. What an improbable animal is the seahorse! Seahorses are an Endangered Species (CITES Appendix II) In theory, seahorses are protected animals. Unlike most other fish, they are monogamous and mate for life. Pacific Seahorse (Hippocampus ingens) Pacific Seahorse. They are caught and killed for use in aquariums or in science laboratories. Seahorses may not, however, benefit much from this strategy, because these poor swimmers are sparsely distributed in structurally complex habitats and rely on camouflage to survive. (Image credit: SEA LIFE … They are green to brown in colour and grow to about 12cm in length. Despite a lack of scientific studies or clinical trials, [51] [52] the consumption of seahorses is widespread in traditional Chinese medicine , primarily in connection with impotence , wheezing, nocturnal enuresis , and pain, as well as labor induction . There are at least four species of Seahorses in the United States: Answer to: Are seahorses an endangered species? As of late 2020, two seahorse species are listed as Endangered and 12 are identified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. An adult Sydney seahorse. Many seahorse species on the IUCN Red List are listed as vulnerable, endangered and also data deficient. Seahorses are marine fish in the genus hippocampus (a ‘genus’ is a category of animals that uses a Latin name) .In Ancient Greek “hippos” means horse, and “kampos” means sea monster. Related Video. White’s seahorse is among them. Most endangered among CITES-listed animals and plants. After much debate over the years, scientists finally decided that seahorses are fish. Trending Stories. Led by award-winning scientists Dr. Amanda Vincent and Dr. Heather Koldewey, we pioneered the study and conservation of seahorses and continue to lead the push to protect these important animals. The Sydney seahorse is Australia’s only threatened seahorse species and only the second endangered seahorse species in the world. They are challenging to keep alive. These seahorses are found in the western North Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Brazil and in the Caribbean Sea and Bermuda. Just like a finger print, or spots on a whale shark, seahorses each have unique traits that can identify an individual. These are disappearing from the earth and their population is growing … Efforts to promote seahorse farming, tried and abandoned in the past, are underway again. More than 30 seahorses have been relocated so far from Forty Baskets and about 23 from Little Manly. However, two thriving colonies of endangered seahorses at Forty Baskets and Little Manly Tidal Pools were in the best of hands when they were recently moved to a temporary home close by while both tidal pools are being rebuilt. The primary threats to the species include habitat loss and their use in traditional Chinese medicine. They are found in the Atlantic Coast of Florida, the Bahamas in the Caribbean, the Gulf Of Mexico, the Florida Keys and elsewhere in the U.S. Based on our research, we know that seahorses are vulnerable to overfishing and habitat damage. Seahorses are under threat worldwide for three main reasons: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Trade takes in excess of up to 150 million seahorses a year from the wild and these are used for all types of medicine.The Curio Trade takes approximately one million seahorses from the wild. 03. of 07. This means we do not know enough about them to assess their conservation status. SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium released footage of the White’s seahorses, a species also known as the Sydney seahorse, and said the conservation program began after the species was listed as endangered. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) has had all species of seahorses listed under Appendix II since 2002. Fourteen seahorse species are officially listed as endangered or vulnerable, and these species are considered at risk of becoming extinct in the wild. The seahorse is actually a pipe fish that lives in warm ocean water. This means that they are either endangered or that scientists don’t have enough data to confirm that they are not endangered. This January, I was invited to take part in a research project on the Knysna seahorse in South Africa, so I jumped at the opportunity. and they are about 1-2 inches long. The seahorse life-cycle is one of the most fascinating nature has to offer! According to the IUCN Red List, 14 species are Vulnerable, and two are Endangered, but 17 other species are listed as Data Deficient. My destination was the small coastal town of Knysna, on the … Photo by David Harasti. Seahorses have a number of enemies in their surroundings, like crabs, tunas and other large fish, but their existence is also threatened by human activities. They live at depths of 50cm to 8m on sandy bottoms or around clumps of plants. Are seahorses endangered? An aquarium in Sydney reported on Monday, October 12, that a number of White’s seahorses bred in a conservation program were found to be thriving after their release into the wild four months ago.SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium released footage of the White’s seahorses, a species also known as the Sydney seahorse, and said the conservation program began after the species was listed as endangered … Seahorses establish faithful pair bonds that allow them to … Populations of the Sydney seahorse have declined over the years due to habitat loss and degradation in their harbour home, which has seen seagrass, sponge and soft coral all but disappear. They breathe using gills, have a swim bladder to control their buoyancy, and are classified in the Class Actinopterygii, the bony fish, which also includes larger fish such as cod and tuna.Seahorses have interlocking plates on the outsides of their bodies, and this covers a spine made of bone. [53] Although, the babies do drift in currents, so I guess they get some better speeds! Seahorses make good pets for your saltwater aquarium, but there is a reason why you don’t see them in your local pet store. CITES is an international treaty between governments to protect the trade of endangered species and plants. Called a ‘brood pouch’, it’s a bit like the pouch of a kangaroo, used for carrying young. Seahorse is a general term that is used for fifty four species of marine fishes. Both of the UK’s native seahorse species – the spiny and the short snouted – were granted protected status in 2008 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Some of the 44 different seahorse species are endangered and protected under the Convention on International Trade. The Knysna seahorse is the best-known of these and is only seahorse which is endangered. Gallery: Endangered animals (Photos) By signing up, you'll get thousands of step-by-step solutions to your homework questions. Most of the vulnerable species belong to the aforementioned countries. Seahorse populations are thought to have been endangered in recent years by overfishing and habitat destruction. To house and breed the country's endangered White's Seahorses (Hippocampus whitei), which have experienced a significant decline during the past 20 years as a result of dwindling natural habitats. There is a lack of information on their life histories and as they are very vulnerable to the pet trade, many researchers believe seahorses should simply be given endangered status as a means of protection. 16. But these thoroughbreds of the sea are now in danger of their lives. Seahorses are listed in Appendix II to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and are regulated under the Protection of Endangered … The endearing, endangered seahorse. Scott / Getty Images. Sadly, many species are either endangered or nearly extinct for that exact reason. With a horse’s head, a possum’s tail, eyes like tiny glass fishbowls and fins that wave like chiffon frills, the shy creatures have intrigued and delighted us since ancient times. Possible Solutions. Before purchasing, you need all the information you can get. The #2 species on my list is the world’s most Endangered seahorse, the Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis). Pregnant Knysna seahorse male on purple sponge habitat. Description . Seahorse Facts. The loss of coral reefs and also seabeds that house seahorse has accelerated the decline of many species in recent decades. Seahorses are considered one of the slowest critters in the ocean, with an average top swim speed of 5 feet per hour. Moreover, migration is also expected to have profound impacts on their reproductive success, because it increases the chances of losing a mate. Knysna seahorse Knysna seahorses are only found in the Knysna, Keurbooms and Swartvlei estuaries on the south coast of South Africa. Project Seahorse is the IUCN global authority on seahorses and their relatives. Currently the seahorse is not listed as endangered and there are no international regulations on trade, a tragedy in the making. Seahorses are truly unique, and not just because of their unusual equine shape. Another endangered species named as Knysna seahorse is extant of South Africa (Western Cape). Although it's not quite the biggest seahorse, the Pacific seahorse is also known as the giant seahorse. Seahorses, octopus, dolphins and some whales are among the endangered animals. The Dwarf Seahorse is the smallest of the four Seahorse species found in the United States .