White’s Seahorse

July 22, 2023

Recently, over 350 White’s Seahorses were released beneath the surface of Sydney’s harbour where they make themselves at home in their seahorse hotels.

About White’s Seahorse:

It is commonly seen holding onto the nets of swimming enclosures.
The species was named after John White, Surgeon General to the First Fleet.
Seahorses are often considered a flagship species for conservation.
Male seahorses can be recognised by the presence of a pouch below the abdomen which is absent in females.
It is usually very well camouflaged in various shades of brown, grey and black.
Habitat:
- These are endemic to Australia.
- It occurs in depths down to about 25 m in temperate marine waters along the south-eastern and south-western coasts of Australia. It is common in Sydney Harbour.
Breeding behaviours
- The reproduction of seahorses is truly remarkable.
- The male seahorse has a pouch (a marsupium) into which the female seahorse lays her eggs.
- In White's Seahorse, the male fertilises the eggs and cares for them for about three weeks.
- Threat: The primary cause for the decline in abundance of White’s Seahorse is the loss of natural habitats across their range in eastern Australia.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN: Endangered