Collar Seahorse, Hippocampus jugumus Kuiter, 2001

Scientific name: Hippocampus jugumus
Collar Seahorse, Hippocampus jugumus Click to enlarge image
A Collar Seahorse taken from the stomach of a kingfish caught at a depth of 100m. The Collar Seahorse was still alive when it was removed from the gut of the larger fish. Rudie Kuiter wrote "It has 2 more trunk rings then most seahorses and the spines on the head are usually double, almost V-like from the base. Colour is probably reddish and it may live in the red algae patches at moderate depths. In clear water algae is still common at 100m." Image: Ian Kerr
© Ian Kerr

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Hippocampus
    Species
    jugumus
    Family
    Syngnathidae
    Order
    Syngnathiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to about 6 cm in height.

Introduction

The Collar Seahorse was described in 2001. It is only known from Lord Howe Island.

Hippocampus jugumus IA.2424

The holotype of Hippocampus jugumus Kuiter, 2001, the Collar Seahorse. The fish was collected in 1925 at Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, and is now registered in the Australian Museum fish collection (AMS IA.2424).

Image: Mark Allen
© Australian Museum

Identification

The author of the species, Rudie Kuiter wrote "The species has two more trunk rings than most seahorses and the spines on the head are usually double, almost V-like from the base. Colour is probably reddish and it may live in the red algae patches at moderate depths. In clear water algae is still common at 100 m."

Habitat

Only two specimens have been collected. The holotype (AMS IA.2424) was found washed up on a beach at Lord Howe Island in 1925, and the fish in the image was recovered while still alive from the gut of a kingfish at Lord Howe Island.

Distribution

The species is only known from the waters of Lord Howe Island, New South Wales.

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 2009. Seahorses and their relatives. Aquatic Photographics. Pp. 333.