Jayakar's seahorse (Hippocampus jayakari) is a species of coastal fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the Western Indian Ocean, from the Red and Arabian seas to the central coast of Pakistan.[1] It lives in seagrass beds (such as Halophila spp.), algae, soft-bottom substrates, sponges, and rocky habitats, where it can grow to lengths of 14 centimetres (5.5 in).[3] It can inhabit depths to 20 metres (66 ft), though it is more commonly found at 2–3 metres (6.6–9.8 ft).[3] It is expected to feed on small crustaceans, similar to other seahorses. This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying eggs in a brood pouch before giving birth to live young.[1] Individuals reach sexual maturity at 11 centimetres (4.3 in).[3] The specific name and the common name honours the Indian physician, linguist and ichthyologist Dr. Surgeon-Major Atmaram Sadashiv "Muscati" Jayakar (1844–1911).[4]

Jayakar's seahorse
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Syngnathidae
Genus: Hippocampus
Species:
H. jayakari
Binomial name
Hippocampus jayakari
Boulenger, 1900

References

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  1. ^ a b c Kuo, T.-C.; Pollom, R. (2017). "Hippocampus jayakari". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T10074A54145490. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T10074A54145490.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ a b c Lourie, S.A., A.C.J. Vincent and H.J. Hall, 1999. Seahorses: an identification guide to the world's species and their conservation. Project Seahorse, London. p.214
  4. ^ "Biographical Etymology of Marine Organism Names. IJ". Hans G. Hansson. Retrieved 19 May 2018.