Their prehensile tail is composed of square-like rings that can be unlocked only in the most extreme conditions. They lack the caudal fin typical of fishes. The pectoral fins, located on either side of the head behind their eyes, are used for steering. Razorfish are the only other fish that swim vertically. Seahorses swim upright, propelling themselves using the dorsal fin, another characteristic not shared by their close pipefish relatives, which swim horizontally. The armor of bony plates also protects them against predators, and because of this outer skeleton, they no longer have ribs. Each species has a distinct number of rings. Although they are bony fish, they do not have scales, but rather thin skin stretched over a series of bony plates, which are arranged in rings throughout their bodies. They are named for their equine appearance, with bent necks and long snouted heads and a distinctive trunk and tail. Seahorses range in size from 1.5 to 35.5 cm ( 5⁄ 8 to 14 in). These species form territories males stay within 1 m 2 (10 sq ft) of habitat, while females range over about one hundred times that. hippocampus (the short-snouted seahorse), and H.

guttulatus (the long-snouted seahorse), H. Three species live in the Mediterranean Sea: H.

zosterae, known as the dwarf seahorse, is found in the Bahamas.Ĭolonies have been found in European waters such as the Thames Estuary. In the Atlantic, Hippocampus erectus ranges from Nova Scotia to Uruguay. Four species are found in Pacific waters from North America to South America. They live in sheltered areas such as seagrass beds, estuaries, coral reefs, and mangroves. Seahorses are mainly found in shallow tropical and temperate salt water throughout the world, from about 45°S to 45°N.

Kingdom come horse armor