Maned seahorse  (Hippocampus guttulatus)

Description

The maned seahorse is a particularly striking species of seahorse, named after the prominent fleshy spines that run down the back of the neck, giving the appearance of a ‘mane’ (4). The colour of the maned seahorse ranges from greenish-yellow to reddish brown, often mimicking the colour of the surrounding environment (4), providing this small fish with valuable camouflage. The body is also often patterned with various spots and blotches (2) (5). Like other seahorses, the maned seahorse has a long snout and a prehensile tail that can curl around to grip any object in the water (4) (6).

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