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2. Seahorse species
Worldwide there are approximately 45 to 65 species of seahorse depending on which classification system is used, (at The Seahorse Trust we use Sara Lourie’s classification system) some suggest there could be more and there is a strong possibility that many species have not been discovered yet.
Two of the reasons for this lack of knowledge is their highly cryptic nature and the fact they are disappearing at an alarming rate (150 million per annum). Seahorses are under threat worldwide (mostly due to them being sold as souvenirs, through the pet trade and for Chinese medicine).
Seahorses are found in temperate as well as tropical waters. Our knowledge of seahorses is still limited and so in theory seahorses could live in most of the seas of the world.

3. Seahorse Distribution
© The Seahorse Trust

4. Seahorse species
Here in the UK we have two species of seahorse, the Short Snouted Seahorse and the Spiny Seahorse.
The Spiny Seahorse specialises (although is not exclusive) in seagrass and the Short Snouted Seahorses tend to live everywhere else.

5. Short Snouted Seahorse (hippocampus hippocampus)
Native to Ireland and the UK.
Short Snouted Seahorse © John Newman 2012

6. Spiny Seahorse (hippocampus guttulatus) Native to Ireland and the UK.
Spiny Seahorse © The Seahorse Trust

7. Seahorses in the Exe
This usually is as a surprise to a lot of people – but seahorses are found in the Exe! Both of these fantastic species are in fact found in and just outside of the Exe Estuary, and have been sighted as high up as Starcross (but could be a lot further up the river).
Dawlish Warren Wildlife Refuge is an ideal area for seahorses, with it’s sheltered waters and eelgrass beds. We have been told many times there are Spiny Seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) around this area but to date The Seahorse Trust do not have any confirmed sightings.

8. Seahorse sizes
They come in all shapes and sizes from the diminutive Hippocampus zosterae at 2.5cm right up to the Hippocampus ingens at 30cm.
However in 2015 a Hippocampus guttulatus (Spiny Seahorse) was found in Poole Bay at a whopping 34cm from the top of the head to the end of the tail. This shows they can grow much bigger than we originally thought.
The three largest seahorses ever found in the UK were found in Poole Harbour by the same fisherman Michael Bailey, measuring 28, 30 and 34 cms (measured with a Bass measure).
Emphasise there is so much more to learn.
Seahorses never stop growing , they just slow down once they have hit maturity and so if left completely undisturbed it is possible to achieve these large sizes.

9. Seahorse facts
Seahorses swim upright, unlike their close relatives the Pipefish, which swim horizontally.
Seahorses are poor swimmers and they are usually found anchored by their prehensile tail to sea grass, coral or almost any other stationary object.
Some pipefish also have prehensile tails.
Seahorses have a coronet on their head which is distinct to each species of seahorse and in some cases can be used to identify the species.
The head resembles a horse’s head and its body has an elongated tail.
They have long snouts which they use to suck up food.
The eyes can move independently of one another much like those of a Chameleon, so they can look forward and backward at the same time.
The body is made up of a bony skeleton which is covered in skin not scales and the skin is covered in a fine layer of mucus.
Seahorses do not mate for life but only for seasons
Go through each of these and discuss each one.

10. Seahorse pregnancy
The male is the only creature where the male has a true reversed pregnancy. The female transfers her eggs to the male which he self-fertilises in his pouch. The number of eggs can vary from for smaller species to 1500 for larger species.
Sightings of pregnant male seahorses are great signs that they are breeding in Devon and gives us hope for the future.
Go through each of these and discuss each one.

11. Thank you and please feel free to ask questions.