The Seahorse

Did you know that seahorses are native to Jamaica Bay and the coastal waters of Long Island? Well, it’s true! Seahorses can be found in the murky marshlands of Jamaica Bay as well as in many other coves and inlets up and down the shorelines of Long Island’s coast. The Seahorse is a small fish with a horse-like head and neck. Their body is protected by bony rings of armor, and they swim in an upright position with their tail curled under them.

There are 46 different species of seahorses, and they can be found in almost all bodies of salt water that have tropical, or moderate temperatures. They are mainly found in shallow tropical and temperate bodies of water and often live in sheltered areas such as sea grass beds, estuaries, coral reefs, and mangroves. The lined seahorse, also known as the northern seahorse, is our local species. Adults can average about five inches long and come in a variety of colors ranging from grey and black to orange and green. They live on average one to four years.

Seahorses are not strong swimmers and will usually cling on to sea grass or coral pieces with their tails. They eat by grabbing small crustaceans or invertebrates as they pass by in the currents. They mainly use camouflage as their defense mechanism against predators such as crabs and larger fish.

During mating, the female seahorse transfers her eggs to the male’s pouch. The male fertilizes the eggs in his pouch and incubates them until they are ready to hatch. And then, the male gives birth to up to 1,000 babies. Like most fish species, seahorses do not nurture their babies. They are on their own to fend for themselves and often fall prey to other fish or are swept away by the currents. The rate of survival for the young seahorse is about 0.5%.

The lined seahorse is listed by the World Conservation Union as “Vulnerable,” and their numbers are on the decline. This is largely due to coastal development and marine pollution. Let’s hope that our local seahorse population rallies and we can enjoy their presence for years to come.