Hippocampus waleananus Gomon & Kuiter, 2009
Walea pygmy seahorse
photo by Ryanskiy, A.

Family:  Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Syngnathinae
Max. size:  1.78 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 5 - 20 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Western Central Pacific: Indonesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12. This species is distinguished by the following characters: size extremely small (height 1.68 cm, 1.78 cm SL); trunks rings 12; tail elongate, 32 tail rings; D 12; pectoral fin rays 9; no anal fin (at least in one sex); apparently eggs brooded within trunk; medium length snout which lacks a bulbous tip; coronet raised and angular; fused gill openings on midline behind the coronet supported by raised cleithral girdle; enlarged knob-like structures on head and trunk; paired laterally directed knob-like structures and each with short fleshy filament on superior trunk ridge of the fifth trunk ring; last 28 tail rings each with small paired knobs on inferior tail ridge, fifth, ninth and twelfth tail rings with bilaterally paired enlarged knob-like structures on superior tail ridges. Colouration: pale pinkish to yellowish with red to brown blotches, radiating bands from eye; body protuberances are white, appearing as white spots (Ref. 80667).
Biology:  Found in association with the soft coral Nephtea, but has also been observed swimming lengthy distances from one coral to the next (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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