One of the most amazing facts about seahorses is that they are the only species where males get pregnant and give birth. The female transfers eggs to the male’s brood pouch, which he self-fertilizes and carries for 14 days to 4 weeks. When the babies are born, they are about the size of an M&M.
Other cool facts about these fabulous fish:
- Unique anatomy: They have fused, unmovable jaws, so they use their tube-like snout as a straw to suck up plankton. Unlike other fish, their bodies are covered in bony plates, not scales.
- Slow swimmers: The Dwarf Seahorse is the slowest fish in the world, traveling just 5 feet per hour.
- Tails are hands: Seahorses use their prehensile tails to grip seaweed or coral to avoid being washed away by currents. They have been known to hook their tails together with their mates.
- Constant eaters: Because they lack a stomach, they must eat constantly, consuming up to 3,000 brine shrimp daily.
- Independent eyes: Similar to chameleons, they can move their eyes independently to look for food and predators at the same time.
