The Life Cycle of a Seahorse

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By Belinda Jiao (P6A)

Rachel Yuen (P6A)

Tiffany Wu (P6A)

Rachael Leung (P6A)

Seahorse Profile

Type : Fish

Diet : Carnivore

Average lifespan : 1 to 5 years

Size : 0.6 to 14 inches (1.5 to 35 cm)

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Size : 0.6 to 14 inches (1.5 to 35 cm)

Group name: Herd

Seahorses have no teeth and no stomach. Food

passes through their digestive systems so quickly

that they must eat almost constantly to stay alive.

Species

short-snouted

seahorse

short-snouted

seahorse

short-snouted

seahorse

mustang

seahorse

This seahorse is

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leafy seahorse

sunburst

seahorse

Malaysian pygmy

seahorse

This seahorse is

actually camouflaged

against this piece of

coral !

Stages

The life cycle of a seahorse can be divided into

4 different stages :

• infants ( birth – 6 weeks )

• juveniles ( 6 weeks – 4 months )

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• juveniles ( 6 weeks – 4 months )

• sub adults ( 4 months – 6 months )

• adults ( from 6 months onward)

They are based on changes in their food,

growth rate, and causes of death.

6 weeks –

the newly-born seahorse has grown to a length of 11 inches, and starts to build up an appetite.

4 months –

the first indications of pouch development and a time of rapid growth,

Mating

new seahorse baby is born!

A fry (new-born

seahorse)

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a time of rapid growth, the young is now 13 inches long.

6 months –

growth slows, pouch development is complete, they are now ready to mate.

8 months –

growth stops, the seahorse has reached its maximum size.

holding tails

Infant

• Food : brine shrimp

• Growth rate : very rapid growth, the baby

seahorse quadruples in size.

• Mortality (cause of death) : eaten by

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• Mortality (cause of death) : eaten by

predators or being swept into ocean

currents

Juvenile

• Growth rate : rapid growth, first indications of

pouch development, the young seahorse grows

from 11 to 13 inches.

• Mortality : outer bone* develops, the risk of

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• Mortality : outer bone* develops, the risk of

death drops sharply

* the outer bone has a nasty taste, dropping the

risk of it being eaten by predators

Sub adult

• Growth rate : growth is slow, the male

seahorse’s pouch development is complete,

allowing sub adult seahorses to begin mating.

• Mortality : from exhaustion and stress during

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• Mortality : from exhaustion and stress during

heavy storms

Adult

Adulthood is the reproductive phase of a

seahorses life.

•Growth rate : growth stops at this stage, the

adults have reached their maximum size and

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adults have reached their maximum size and

are now very mature.

Reproduction• Females produce the eggs, which are deposited

in the male’s pouch, who becomes pregnant and gives birth to the offspring.

• A seahorse’s pregnancy lasts for two to four weeks.

• When the baby seahorse is ready to be born,

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• When the baby seahorse is ready to be born, the male undergoes muscular contractions to expel them from his pouch. He usually gives birth at night and is ready for the next batch of eggs by morning when his mate returns.

• Seahorses do not care for their young once they are born.

Courtship – the pair synchronize their movements so that both are prepared for the ‘big day’.

female produces eggs, which are deposited in the male’s pouch.

The pair prepares for the next batch of eggs, the newly born seahorses are on their own now.

reproductive ‘time out’ period

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pouch

male’s pouch.

the eggs hatch in the male’s brood pouch for 2-4 weeks.

the fry is ready to be born, the male expels them out of his pouch through muscular contractions at night.

their own now.

Source of Information

1. http://www.seahorse.com

2. http://www.wikipedia.com

3. http://forum.punjabijunktion.co.in/seahorses-worlds-most-romantic-species/

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