short-snouted seahorse

This seahorse has no dorsal spine. As an adult, it measures between 7 and 13 cm, sometimes 15 cm according to sources. Its small snout slightly curved upwards does not exceed one-third of the head. This feature is one of the keys to identifying it.

The coloration varies depending on the environment. It can be uniformly brown to yellow, orange, purple, black, or green. Some individuals living on sponges may have a mixture of colors ranging from brown to rust. It may have tiny white dots but these do not merge into thick horizontal lines unlike its closest cousin, H. guttulatus.

This seahorse inhabits dense vegetation habitats. It is found in seagrass meadows and algae-rich areas. Sometimes, it can also cling to sponges. Its clumsy swim makes it often found in calm and sheltered areas.

It perfectly mimics the green or yellow coloration of typical vegetation in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. This feature allows it to avoid detection by predators and to surprise marine microorganisms that it sucks up with its snout.

It is generally a solitary fish that limits its movements. In general, it avoids leaving planted areas. In winter, it moves to deeper areas and returns in the early summer. Dispersal is significant, probably due to its clumsy swim. During storms, adults cling to debris and are transported over long distances.

This fish lives between 3 and 5 years.

This species is monogamous and ovoviviparous. The female deposits the eggs in the male's pouch. During the mating season, mature males and females change color and become more vibrant, especially during courtship and mating. Newly hatched young are believed to have a planktonic stage that lasts at least eight weeks.