Hippocampus sindonis Jordan & Snyder, 1901
Shiho's seahorse
Hippocampus sindonis
photo by Sandra J. Raredon / Smithsonian Institution, NMNH, Div. of Fishes

Family:  Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Syngnathinae
Max. size:  10.83 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 75 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: southern Japan.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished in having the following characters: bony body; double gill openings; R 10 + 35-38 (holotype: 10 + 37); coronet moderately high; CoT 5; CHGO 26.8-41.0 % HL; CHMC 36.3-55.4 % HL; a very blunt or truncated spine on the dorsal fin base; absence of the wing-tip spine on dorsal fin base (Ref. 117115).
Biology:  Reported to live in a wide range of habitats, from shallow high-energy algae reefs to soft bottom habitats (Ref. 117115). Length type refers to height (= TL - head length). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 August 2016 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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