With a head like a horse, a tail like a monkey, and a pouch like a kangaroo, seahorses are truly unique aquatic creatures. There are nearly 50 species scattered throughout the globe, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. These tiny fish are not particularly talented swimmers but can use their tails to anchor to vegetation when the ocean gets rough. Seahorses move by using a small fin on their backs and an even smaller set on the back of their heads that controls steering. Similar to a chameleon, seahorses are able to move each of their eyes independently and change their body coloration to match their environment. With such variety amongst the species, it’s helpful to organize them by attributes, like their maximum observed length. Take a look at our list of the Largest Seahorses in order of length.
Now read on the find out more detail about these sizable and amazing members of the seahorse family!
10. Short-snouted Seahorse and Barbour’s Seahorse (up to 15 cm, 5.9 inches)
Coming in at number ten, we have a tie between the short-snouted (Hippocampus hippocampus) and Barbour’s seahorses (Hippocampus barbouri), each capable of growing up to 15 cm long. The short-snouted seahorse lives in a preferred habitat of shallow muddy waters, estuaries, or seagrass beds. They were endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and small parts of the North Atlantic, although a colony was discovered in the River Thames near London, England, in 2007. The bodies of the short-snout can be black, purple, orange, or brown.
The Barbour’s seahorse is the only species located entirely in southeast Asia, being native to the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is identifiable due to the zebra-striped pattern along its snout and its bright yellow coloration. The females are slightly smaller than the males.
9. Spiny Seahorse (up to 17 cm, 6.69 inches)
The spiny seahorse (Hippocampus histrix) is relatively rare but widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific region. They have been reported in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Japan. Unlike other species, the spiny seahorse can be found in deeper waters down to nearly 100 meters below the surface. The snout is very long and tapered when compared to the short-snouted, and coloration varies depending on the immediate environment.
8. Slender Seahorse (up to 17.5 cm, 6.89 inches)
The slender seahorse (Hippocampus reidi) has been found at a variety of ocean depths up to 55 meters below the surface of the water. They are native to many countries, including the US, China, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti, Jamaica, and Panama. The slender is a subtropical seahorse and in danger of becoming endangered in China and Brazil because they are used in traditional medicine and for commercial extraction. Males are usually a vibrant orange color while females are yellow.
7. Tiger Tail Seahorse (up to 18.7 cm, 7.36 inches)
Taking the number seven spot on our list, tiger tail seahorses (Hippocampus comes) can grow to nearly 19 cm and are found in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. They can be identified by their alternating yellow and black stripes. The tiger tail is nocturnal and lives anywhere between 1-5 years long in the wild.
6. Lined Seahorse (up to 19 cm, 7.48 inches)
Living along the western Atlantic Ocean from Canada all the way down to Mexico and Venezuela, the lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) is the only variety to have been found living in the Chesapeake Bay. It prefers the environment of its cohorts, muddy waters, estuaries, and especially grassy sea beds. The lined seahorse sports a broad color spectrum to match their surroundings and often has white lines outlining the neck area, which led to their name. They have been listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN since 1996.
5. Long-snouted Seahorse (up to 21.5 cm, 8.46 inches)
A shallow water dweller, the long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) lives in coastal waters between 1-20 meters deep. They are found in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. They are usually around 12 cm long but have reached a maximum length of over 21 cm. The long-snouted seahorse varies in color from dark green to yellow-brown, with small white dots speckled across its body. This seahorse species is relatively rare, and not enough data exists to make an accurate assessment of their conservation status.
4. Flat-faced Seahorse (up to 22 cm, 8.66 inches)
This species is found primarily in shallow seas around Australia and Asia. Living up to its name, the flat-faced seahorse (Hippocampus trimaculatus) is typically flat, with eye spines, a narrow head, and no nose spines. The coloration can be golden orange, sandy-colored or black. Occasionally, brown and white zebra-like stripes have been observed on flat-faced seahorses.
3. Great Seahorse (up to 28 cm, 11 inches)
Squeezing in at number three on our list is the great seahorse (Hippocampus kelloggi). The great seahorse is difficult to identify because it shares a lot of characteristics with other species. However, subtle differences give it away, like its unusually high tail rings on tails which take up nearly 60% of its body. The great seahorse is usually a paler color and lives in the Indo-Pacific region with documented observations from the coast of East Africa to Japan.
2. Pacific Seahorse and Yellow Seahorse (up to 30 cm, 11.8 inches)
The silver medal for longest seahorse goes to two species, the Pacific seahorse (Hippocampus ingens) and yellow seahorse (Hippocampus kuda). True to its name, the pacific seahorse is the only seahorse to be found specifically in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Like other species, the pacific seahorse can be a few different colors like green, brown, maroon, gray, and yellow. Males can be differentiated from females because of their keel, which is a strengthening ridge at the base of their tail resembling the keel of a boat.
The yellow seahorse, also known as the common seahorse, is native to the Indo-Pacific and has been spotted off the coasts of more than twenty countries. It is one of the most common seahorses to be found in residential aquariums and differs from other species because it features low, rounded bumps instead of spines along its body. Generally, the yellow seahorse averages between 7 and 17 cm but has been observed at a maximum length of 30 cm.
1. Big-belly Seahorse (up to 35 cm, 13.78 inches)
The big-belly seahorse(hippocampus abdominalis)is the largest seahorse in the world and can grow to more than a foot in length. Not only are they the longest measured seahorse variety, but the big-belly is also a relatively proficient swimmer, unlike the rest of the entries on this list. The big-belly seahorse is found primarily along the coast of Australia and New Zealand, has a long snout, obvious but narrow potbelly, and a long, coiled tail. The big-belly appears in brown and yellow with a few darker splotches, while the tail is often circled with yellow bands. During mating rituals, both the male and female are capable of changing and accentuating certain colors.
Seahorse Diet and Conservation Concerns
All seahorse species described in this article are predators or omnivores. Due to their relatively inept swimming ability, they rely mainly on camouflage to catch their prey, which largely consists of small crustaceans, small shrimp, and planktonic organisms. Seahorses do not have stomachs or teeth, instead using their snouts to suck up desired prey. Due to simple digestive systems, they must eat fairly constantly to stay alive. Larger crustaceans, like crabs, rays and certain fish are common seahorse predators.
Because of the variety, and relative rarity of many seahorse species, conservation data is limited. However, the primary threats to all seahorses are habitat loss, overfishing to support traditional medicine practices popular in countries like China, and commercial extraction for use as pets. To this end, twelve more well-known species are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN and two are listed as endangered.
Summary Of The 10 Largest Seahorses In The World
Rank | Seahorse | Size | Location |
---|---|---|---|
10 | Short-snouted seahorse & Barbour’s seahorse (tied) | up to 15 cm, 5.9 inches | Mediterranean & North America Southeast Asia |
9 | Spiny Seahorse | up to 17 cm, 6.69 inches | Indo-Pacific – Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Japan |
8 | Slender seahorse | up to 17.5 cm, 6.89 inches | U.S., China, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti, Jamaica, and Panama |
7 | Tiger tail seahorse | up to 18.7 cm, 7.36 inches | Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines |
6 | Lined seahorse | up to 19 cm, 7.48 inches | Western Atlantic Ocean from Canada to Mexico and Venezuela |
5 | Long-snouted seahorse | up to 21.5 cm, 8.46 inches | Northeast Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea |
4 | Flat-faced seahorse | up to 22 cm, 8.66 inches | Australia and Asia |
3 | Great seahorse | up to 28 cm, 11 inches | Indo-Pacific – from the coast of East Africa to Japan |
2 | Pacific seahorse & Yellow Seahorse (tied) | up to 30 cm, 11.8 inches | Eastern Pacific Ocean Indo-Pacific |
1 | Big-Belly Seahorse | up to 35 cm, 13.78 inches | Coast of Australia and New Zealand |
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