Seahorses are unique fish (yes, fish!) that live in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world. They prefer environments such as mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs, and estuaries.
Why is it difficult to spot them in these habitats?
Seahorses are great at blending in with the environment around them. Due to their small size, it is easy for them to hide in beds of seagrass and corals.
Try to spot the seahorse in this photo:
Can't find it?
There's actually two!
They use both their color and body type/texture to help them to blend in to their environments. Therefore, using their color, body type, or texture to identify the species of seahorse is not helpful.
What species of seahorses might you "sea" in South Florida?
Species of seahorses commonly found in South Florida, specifically in the Gulf of Mexico, include lined seahorses and dwarf seahorses. Another species you may come across in South Florida is the slender or longsnout seahorse.
So how do I tell the difference between a lined seahorse, a dwarf seahorse, and a longnsout seahorse?
According to Saving Seahorses Together, lined seahorses (Hippocampus erectus) have relatively short snouts and can sometimes have sharp spines on their bodies. They will often have white lines on their head and neck and grow to be around 7 1/2 inches tall.
Dwarf seahorses (Hippocampus zosterae) also have short snouts, but grow to be only about 1 inch tall. The skin of this species is often covered in small warts.
Slender, or longsnout, seahorses (Hippocampus reidi) have longer snouts (obviously) and narrower bodies than lined seahorses. Like the lined seahorse, they can grow up to 7 inches tall. They are often covered in many spots.
What is the best way to be able to see a seahorse?
The best way to find seahorses (especially dwarf seahorses) is to go through a seagrass bed with a net. It will be difficult to spot them while they have their tails wrapped around the seagrass, so using a net would definitely help. However, if you are to use a net, remember to be gentle with them (they are living creatures after all!) and do not keep them out of water for long.
I'm so glad you included that first picture on here. I stared at it for so long, and I had a lot of trouble finding both sea horses. It is amazing how they use their different patterns and textures to blend into their environment and hide from predators. They match their surroundings perfectly. I wonder if I would be able to recognize them in their natural habitat. After seeing that picture, I don't have much faith in myself.
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