SEAHORSES

The seahorse has enchanted and captivated human beings for thousands of years.

Our fascination with them dates back to classical times - their scientific name 'hippocampus' means 'bent horse' in Greek.

Although they are fish the seahorses appearance, means of propulsion and complex behaviour are unlike those of any other species.

They swim upright, beating their tiny dorsal fins at a rate of 20 to 35 times per second.

There are approximately 35 different species of seahorse found worldwide ranging in size from 5cms to up to 40cms and living in places as distant as Nova Scotia and New Zealand.

Two species (Hippocampus hippocampus and Hippocampus ramulosus) are found around Britain although here, as in the rest of the world, their numbers are under threat.

Seahorses and their close relatives the pipefish are unique in that it is the male that becomes "pregnant", carrying and incubating the eggs in a specially-adapted stomach pouch until they hatch.

The male carries the eggs for up to seven weeks before 'giving birth' to up to 200 young over a period of a few days.

Scientists believe seahorses mate for life. It is thought that the longer they remain together the better they become at producing babies.

Like chameleons seahorses' eyes operate independently, one searching for food while the other keeps a look out for would-be predators.

Unlike fish, seahorses have no tail fins. Instead they use their prehensile tails to grab onto sea grass or pieces of coral anchoring themselves in one place.

Seahorses are the slowest moving fish in the world - with a top speed of no more than a foot a minute.

Although they appear fragile, seahorses are covered in armoured plates which protect them from predators.

Virtually all species of seahorse are now under threat.

Traditional Chinese medicine is the biggest user of seahorses with more than 20 million killed every year.

The home aquarium industry and the souvenir trade also accounts for many hundreds of thousands of deaths annually.

Unfortunately seahorses also live in some of the world's most endangered habitats; coral reefs, mangroves and estuaries

Public aquariums worldwide - like the Blue Reef Aquarium - are now developing captive-breeding programmes to ensure no more are taken from the wild and raising public awareness to their plight.