Hippocampus montebelloensis Kuiter, 2001
Monte Bello seahorse
photo by Kuiter, R.H.

Family:  Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Syngnathinae
Max. size:  7.8 cm OT (female)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine, non-migratory
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean: known only from Monte Bello Islands and Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-19. Trunk rings 11; tail rings 37; subdorsal spines 3/0,1,0; spine above eye of moderate size, length about pupil-diameter, slightly angled back; moderately large and recurving lateral head spine; long, forward-directed nape spine; nose profile straight; coronet moderately high, with spines on corners, posterior 3 largest and directed backward; 3 spines of moderate size on shoulder ring, uppermost and central spines at end of pectoral-fin base, lowermost ventrally; superior trunk ridge with spines of small to moderate size on rings 1, 4, 7 and 11, extended by long dermal flaps at spine tips in holotype; superior tail ridge similar to superior trunk ridge, with enlarged spines at regular intervals, becoming progressively smaller posteriorly (Ref. 42735).
Biology:  Found on the continental shelf (Ref. 75154). Holotype caught at the surface, clinging to Sargassum fragment (Ref. 42735). Maximum length is based on a straight-line length measurement from upper surface (ignoring spines) of first trunk ring, to tip of tail (Ref. 42735). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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