Fish Identification: Find Species

Class: Teleostei
Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Syngnathidae Pipefishes and seahorses
Subfamily: Syngnathinae
Genus: Hippocampus

(See list of species below)



Select Class:     Select Order:   
Select Family: Subfamily:     Select Genus:

Select Ocean (marine/brackish) or Continent (freshwater):
Select a country:
Only include species occuring above: m

Total number of spines in dorsal and anal fins (optional).      Enter total length (TL) and maximum body depth (BD)

Show family drawing(s)



53 species
(see list below)
Export file

1 of 1 Jump to:

Photo by Lourie, S.A.

Southwest Pacific
Max. Length 35 cm OT
Hippocampus abdominalis Lesson, 1827

Photo by Photo by Lourie, S.A.
 
Hippocampus abdominalis
[Big-belly seahorse]

Photo by Wirtz, P.

Eastern Central Atlantic
Max. Length 19.2 cm OT
Hippocampus algiricus Kaup, 1856

Photo by Photo by Wirtz, P.
 
Hippocampus algiricus
[West African seahorse]

Photo by Lourie, S.A.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 22 cm TL
Hippocampus angustus Günther, 1870

Photo by Photo by Lourie, S.A.
 
Hippocampus angustus
[Western spiny seahorse]

Photo by Allen, G.R.

Western Central Pacific
Max. Length 15 cm OT
Hippocampus barbouri Jordan & Richardson, 1908

Photo by Photo by Allen, G.R.
 
Hippocampus barbouri
[Barbour's seahorse]

Photo by Brett, O.J. / www.tropicalfavourites.com

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 2.4 cm OT
Hippocampus bargibanti Whitley, 1970

Photo by Photo by Brett, O.J. / www.tropicalfavourites.com
 
Hippocampus bargibanti
[Pygmy seahorse]

Photo by Lourie, S.A.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 14 cm OT
Hippocampus borboniensis Duméril, 1870

Photo by Photo by Lourie, S.A.
 
Hippocampus borboniensis
[Réunion seahorse]

Photo by Good, P.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 15 cm TL
Hippocampus breviceps Peters, 1869

Photo by Photo by Good, P.
 
Hippocampus breviceps
[Shorthead seahorse]

Photo by Lourie, S.A.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 10 cm TL
Hippocampus camelopardalis Bianconi, 1854

Photo by Photo by Lourie, S.A.
 
Hippocampus camelopardalis
[Giraffe seahorse]

Photo by Lourie, S.A.

Southeast Atlantic
Max. Length 12.1 cm OT
Hippocampus capensis Boulenger, 1900

Photo by Photo by Lourie, S.A.
 
Hippocampus capensis
[Knysna seahorse]
No picture found

Max. Length 13.3 cm SL

 
Hippocampus casscsio
[Beibu Bay seahorse]

Photo by Steene, R.

Southwest Pacific
Max. Length 2.7 cm SL
Hippocampus colemani Kuiter, 2003

Photo by Photo by Steene, R.
 
Hippocampus colemani
[Coleman's pygmy seahorse]

Photo by Lourie, S.A.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 18.7 cm OT
Hippocampus comes Cantor, 1849

Photo by Photo by Lourie, S.A.
 
Hippocampus comes
[Tiger tail seahorse]

Photo by Suzuki, T.

Northwest Pacific
Max. Length 13.3 cm SL
Hippocampus coronatus Temminck & Schlegel, 1850

Photo by Photo by Suzuki, T.
 
Hippocampus coronatus
[Crowned seahorse]

Photo by Bajol, R.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 9.8 cm SL
Hippocampus curvicuspis Fricke, 2004

Photo by Photo by Bajol, R.
 
Hippocampus curvicuspis
[New Caledonian thorny seahorse]
No picture found


 
Hippocampus dahli
[Lowcrown seahorse]

Photo by van Beeck, D.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 2.4 cm SL
Hippocampus debelius Gomon & Kuiter, 2009

Photo by Photo by van Beeck, D.
 
Hippocampus debelius
[Softcoral seahorse]

Photo by Brett, O.J. / www.tropicalfavourites.com

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 2.4 cm SL
Hippocampus denise Lourie & Randall, 2003

Photo by Photo by Brett, O.J. / www.tropicalfavourites.com
 
Hippocampus denise
[Denise's pygmy seahorse]

Photo by Macieira, R.M.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 19 cm OT
Hippocampus erectus Perry, 1810

Photo by Photo by Macieira, R.M.
 
Hippocampus erectus
[Lined seahorse]

Photo by Lourie, S.A.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 8 cm OT
Hippocampus fisheri Jordan & Evermann, 1903

Photo by Photo by Lourie, S.A.
 
Hippocampus fisheri
[Fisher's seahorse]

Photo by Lourie, S.A.

Indian Ocean
Max. Length 14.4 cm OT
Hippocampus fuscus Rüppell, 1838

Photo by Photo by Lourie, S.A.
 
Hippocampus fuscus
[Sea pony]

Photo by Patzner, R.

Eastern Atlantic
Max. Length 21.5 cm SL
Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier, 1829

Photo by Photo by Patzner, R.
 
Hippocampus guttulatus
[Long-snouted seahorse]

Photo by Kim, J.-K.

Northwestern Pacific
Max. Length 11.4 cm SL
Hippocampus haema Han, Kim, Kai & Senou, 2017

Photo by Photo by Kim, J.-K.
 
Hippocampus haema
[Korean seahorse]

Photo by Neto, G.

Eastern Atlantic
Max. Length 15 cm TL
Hippocampus hippocampus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Photo by Photo by Neto, G.
 
Hippocampus hippocampus
[Short snouted seahorse]

Photo by Bednarzik, J.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 17 cm TL
Hippocampus histrix Kaup, 1856

Photo by Photo by Bednarzik, J.
 
Hippocampus histrix
[Thorny seahorse]

Photo by Lavan, J.

Eastern Pacific
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Hippocampus ingens Girard, 1858

Photo by Photo by Lavan, J.
 
Hippocampus ingens
[Pacific seahorse]
No picture found

Max. Length 1.6 cm SL

 
Hippocampus japapigu
[Japanese pygmy seahorse]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 14 cm OT
Hippocampus jayakari Boulenger, 1900

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Hippocampus jayakari
[Jayakar's seahorse]

Photo by Kuiter, R.H.

Southwest Pacific
Max. Length 4.4 cm OT
Hippocampus jugumus Kuiter, 2001

Photo by Photo by Kuiter, R.H.
 
Hippocampus jugumus
[Collared seahorse]

Photo by Ryanskiy, A.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 28 cm OT
Hippocampus kelloggi Jordan & Snyder, 1901

Photo by Photo by Ryanskiy, A.
 
Hippocampus kelloggi
[Great seahorse]

Photo by Greenfield, J.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 30 cm TL
Hippocampus kuda Bleeker, 1852

Photo by Photo by Greenfield, J.
 
Hippocampus kuda
[Spotted seahorse]

Photo by Lourie, S.A.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 4 cm OT
Hippocampus lichtensteinii Kaup, 1856

Photo by Photo by Lourie, S.A.
 
Hippocampus lichtensteinii
[Lichtenstein's Seahorse]

Photo by Lourie, S.A.

Southwest Pacific
Max. Length 5 cm OT
Hippocampus minotaur Gomon, 1997

Photo by Photo by Lourie, S.A.
 
Hippocampus minotaur
[Bullneck seahorse]

Photo by Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC)

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 8 cm OT
Hippocampus mohnikei Bleeker, 1853

Photo by Photo by Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC)
 
Hippocampus mohnikei
[Japanese seahorse]

Photo by Kuiter, R.H.

Eastern Indian Ocean
Max. Length 7.8 cm OT
Hippocampus montebelloensis Kuiter, 2001

Photo by Photo by Kuiter, R.H.
 
Hippocampus montebelloensis
[Monte Bello seahorse]
No picture found

Max. Length 2.2 cm SL

 
Hippocampus nalu
[Sodwana pygmy seahorse]
No picture found

Max. Length 6.5 cm SL

 
Hippocampus paradoxus
[Paradoxical seahorse]

Photo by Díaz de Astarloa, J.M.

Southwest Atlantic
Max. Length 10.3 cm TL
Hippocampus patagonicus Piacentino & Luzzatto, 2004

Photo by Photo by Díaz de Astarloa, J.M.
 
Hippocampus patagonicus
[Patagonian seahorse]

Photo by Kuiter, R.H.

Eastern Indian Ocean
Max. Length 10.8 cm OT
Hippocampus planifrons Peters, 1877

Photo by Photo by Kuiter, R.H.
 
Hippocampus planifrons
[Flatface seahorse]

Photo by Winkel, D.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 1.7 cm SL
Hippocampus pontohi Lourie & Kuiter, 2008

Photo by Photo by Winkel, D.
 
Hippocampus pontohi
[Pontoh's pygmy seahorse]

Photo by Fricke, R.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 3.9 cm OT
Hippocampus pusillus Fricke, 2004

Photo by Photo by Fricke, R.
 
Hippocampus pusillus
[Pygmy thorny seahorse]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 17.5 cm OT
Hippocampus reidi Ginsburg, 1933

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Hippocampus reidi
[Longsnout seahorse]

Photo by Henke, M.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 1.4 cm SL
Hippocampus satomiae Lourie & Kuiter, 2008

Photo by Photo by Henke, M.
 
Hippocampus satomiae
[Satomi's pygmy seahorse]

Photo by Sandra J. Raredon / Smithsonian Institution, NMNH, Div. of Fishes

Northwest Pacific
Max. Length 10.8 cm SL
Hippocampus sindonis Jordan & Snyder, 1901

Photo by Photo by Sandra J. Raredon / Smithsonian Institution, NMNH, Div. of Fishes
 
Hippocampus sindonis
[Shiho's seahorse]

Photo by Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC)

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 18 cm OT
Hippocampus spinosissimus Weber, 1913

Photo by Photo by Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC)
 
Hippocampus spinosissimus
[Hedgehog seahorse]

Photo by Maddern, M.

Eastern Indian Ocean
Max. Length 20 cm OT
Hippocampus subelongatus Castelnau, 1873

Photo by Photo by Maddern, M.
 
Hippocampus subelongatus
[West Australian seahorse]

Photo by Ryanskiy, A.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 27.5 cm TL
Hippocampus suezensis Duncker, 1940

Photo by Photo by Ryanskiy, A.
 
Hippocampus suezensis
[Egyptian seahorse]

Photo by Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC)

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 22 cm TL
Hippocampus trimaculatus Leach, 1814

Photo by Photo by Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC)
 
Hippocampus trimaculatus
[Longnose seahorse]

Photo by Watson, S.

Eastern Indian Ocean
Max. Length 18 cm OT
Hippocampus tristis Castelnau, 1872

Photo by Photo by Watson, S.
 
Hippocampus tristis
[Lazarus seahorse]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 6.1 cm TL
Hippocampus tyro Randall & Lourie, 2009

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Hippocampus tyro
[]

Photo by Ryanskiy, A.

Western Central Pacific
Max. Length 1.8 cm SL
Hippocampus waleananus Gomon & Kuiter, 2009

Photo by Photo by Ryanskiy, A.
 
Hippocampus waleananus
[Walea pygmy seahorse]

Photo by Banks, I.

Southwest Pacific
Max. Length 13 cm OT
Hippocampus whitei Bleeker, 1855

Photo by Photo by Banks, I.
 
Hippocampus whitei
[White's seahorse]

Photo by Lourie, S.A.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 8 cm OT
Hippocampus zebra Whitley, 1964

Photo by Photo by Lourie, S.A.
 
Hippocampus zebra
[Zebra seahorse]

Photo by Sandra J. Raredon / Smithsonian Institution, NMNH, Div. of Fishes

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 5 cm TL
Hippocampus zosterae Jordan & Gilbert, 1882

Photo by Photo by Sandra J. Raredon / Smithsonian Institution, NMNH, Div. of Fishes
 
Hippocampus zosterae
[Dwarf seahorse]


Sort by: Species Length Year
1 of 1 Jump to:
Export file
n = 53

Scientific Name English Name Distribution Max. Length (cm) Year
Hippocampus abdominalis Big-belly seahorse Southwest Pacific 35 OT 1827
Hippocampus algiricus West African seahorse Eastern Central Atlantic 19.2 OT 1856
Hippocampus angustus Western spiny seahorse Indo-West Pacific 22 TL 1870
Hippocampus barbouri Barbour's seahorse Western Central Pacific 15 OT 1908
Hippocampus bargibanti Pygmy seahorse Indo-West Pacific 2.4 OT 1970
Hippocampus borboniensis Réunion seahorse Western Indian Ocean 14 OT 1870
Hippocampus breviceps Shorthead seahorse Indo-Pacific 15 TL 1869
Hippocampus camelopardalis Giraffe seahorse Western Indian Ocean 10 TL 1854
Hippocampus capensis Knysna seahorse Southeast Atlantic 12.1 OT 1900
Hippocampus casscsio Beibu Bay seahorse Northwest Pacific 13.3 SL 2016
Hippocampus colemani Coleman's pygmy seahorse Southwest Pacific 2.7 SL 2003
Hippocampus comes Tiger tail seahorse Indo-West Pacific 18.7 OT 1849
Hippocampus coronatus Crowned seahorse Northwest Pacific 13.3 SL 1850
Hippocampus curvicuspis New Caledonian thorny seahorse Western Pacific 9.8 SL 2004
Hippocampus dahli Lowcrown seahorse Western Central Pacific 1908
Hippocampus debelius Softcoral seahorse Western Indian Ocean 2.4 SL 2009
Hippocampus denise Denise's pygmy seahorse Indo-West Pacific 2.4 SL 2003
Hippocampus erectus Lined seahorse Western Atlantic 19 OT 1810
Hippocampus fisheri Fisher's seahorse Western Pacific 8 OT 1903
Hippocampus fuscus Sea pony Indian Ocean 14.4 OT 1838
Hippocampus guttulatus Long-snouted seahorse Eastern Atlantic 21.5 SL 1829
Hippocampus haema Korean seahorse Northwestern Pacific 11.4 SL 2017
Hippocampus hippocampus Short snouted seahorse Eastern Atlantic 15 TL 1758
Hippocampus histrix Thorny seahorse Indo-Pacific 17 TL 1856
Hippocampus ingens Pacific seahorse Eastern Pacific 30 TL 1858
Hippocampus japapigu Japanese pygmy seahorse Northwestern Pacific 1.6 SL 2018
Hippocampus jayakari Jayakar's seahorse Western Indian Ocean 14 OT 1900
Hippocampus jugumus Collared seahorse Southwest Pacific 4.4 OT 2001
Hippocampus kelloggi Great seahorse Indo-West Pacific 28 OT 1901
Hippocampus kuda Spotted seahorse Indo-Pacific 30 TL 1852
Hippocampus lichtensteinii Lichtenstein's Seahorse Western Indian Ocean 4 OT 1856
Hippocampus minotaur Bullneck seahorse Southwest Pacific 5 OT 1997
Hippocampus mohnikei Japanese seahorse Indo-West Pacific 8 OT 1853
Hippocampus montebelloensis Monte Bello seahorse Eastern Indian Ocean 7.8 OT 2001
Hippocampus nalu Sodwana pygmy seahorse Western Indian Ocean 2.2 SL 2020
Hippocampus paradoxus Paradoxical seahorse Eastern Indian Ocean 6.5 SL 2010
Hippocampus patagonicus Patagonian seahorse Southwest Atlantic 10.3 TL 2004
Hippocampus planifrons Flatface seahorse Eastern Indian Ocean 10.8 OT 1877
Hippocampus pontohi Pontoh's pygmy seahorse Western Pacific 1.7 SL 2008
Hippocampus pusillus Pygmy thorny seahorse Western Pacific 3.9 OT 2004
Hippocampus reidi Longsnout seahorse Western Atlantic 17.5 OT 1933
Hippocampus satomiae Satomi's pygmy seahorse Western Pacific 1.4 SL 2008
Hippocampus sindonis Shiho's seahorse Northwest Pacific 10.8 SL 1901
Hippocampus spinosissimus Hedgehog seahorse Indo-Pacific 18 OT 1913
Hippocampus subelongatus West Australian seahorse Eastern Indian Ocean 20 OT 1873
Hippocampus suezensis Egyptian seahorse Western Indian Ocean 27.5 TL 1940
Hippocampus trimaculatus Longnose seahorse Indo-West Pacific 22 TL 1814
Hippocampus tristis Lazarus seahorse Eastern Indian Ocean 18 OT 1872
Hippocampus tyro Western Indian Ocean 6.1 TL 2009
Hippocampus waleananus Walea pygmy seahorse Western Central Pacific 1.8 SL 2009
Hippocampus whitei White's seahorse Southwest Pacific 13 OT 1855
Hippocampus zebra Zebra seahorse Indo-West Pacific 8 OT 1964
Hippocampus zosterae Dwarf seahorse Western Atlantic 5 TL 1882



Other identification tools in FishBase


Quick Identification
Identification keys
Identification by morphometrics
Identification by pictures:
          If you already know the Family, go to Search FishBase, select Family and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in FishBase for the family.

          If you already know the Country, go to
Search FishBase, select Country and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in FishBase for the country.

          If you already know the Ecosystem, go to
Search FishBase, select Ecosystem and click on 'Identification by pictures' to display all available pictures in FishBase for the ecosystem.
cfm script by eagbayani, 30.11.04, ,  php script by cmilitante, 05/11/2010 ,  last modified by cmilitante, 14/03/2013