Hippocampus comes

(Jordan & Richardson, 1908)

Vernacular names
English : Tiger tail seahorse
French : Hippocampe à queue tigrée

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Syngnathiformes
Family : Syngnathidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The species grows up to 18 cm in length. It has a low coronet but with spines and two distinct spines on cheeks, blunt spines on belly. Coloration variable from light beige to nearly black with distinctive yellow stripes on darker tail.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the western Pacific Ocean, from Thailand to Peninsular Malaysia, Greater Sundas and Philippines. Lives in coral reefs, kelp and floating sargassum beds, from 15 to 30 meters deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Appendix II
Status : This seahorse species is the most traded in markets and for Chinese medicine. Its populations are declining but there are no precise assessments done.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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