Seahorses

Seahorses are fish and belong to the same family as the seadragon and pipefish. There are many species of seahorse found around the world, usually found in shallow, warm bodies of water. Seahorses live in sea grass and seaweed, wrapping their tails around stems when stationary. They swim in an upright position and use dorsal fins for propulsion whilst their pectoral fins near their gills are used for stabilisation and steering.

There are two species of seahorse found in UK waters; the short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus) and the spiny seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus), both of which have been recorded off Plymouth within sea grass beds on the Tamar and Yealm estuaries.

The spiny and short-snouted seahorses are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). This protection means that it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly harm or disturb any seahorse. They are protected against killing, injuring or taking; possession or control; damage or destruction of their places of shelter; disturbance while such animals are occupying places of shelter; and sale, possession or transport for the purpose of sale and advertising the buying or selling of such animals.

Seahorses are small and extremely well camouflaged, making them very difficult to spot! If you would like to see them close up then why not visit Plymouth's National Marine Aquarium?

For more information on spiny and short-snouted seahorses visit Natural England and The Seahorse Trust.