Sea Horses

For snorkeling Freeport Bahamas is the place to be. Exotic tropical fish, dolphins, sharks and beautiful coral reefs are all on display in the waters surrounding the islands. While not the largest or the most colorful of the fish that can be found in the area, sea horses are one of the most unique of any underseas animal and a definite crowd pleaser. Both in their appearance and in their behavior, they are like no other fish in the world.

Sea Horse Appearance

Sea horses get their common name from their startling appearance. With an arched neck and a long snout, they bear a distinctly equine resemblance, unexpected in an animal so completely unrelated to a real horse. Unlike almost all other fish, they hold themselves up vertically and swim by fluttering their dorsal fins. Not surprisingly, this isn't a very efficient manner of locomotion and sea horses cannot move very quickly. They have good eyesight however and can even move their eyes independently, a neat party trick.

What they lack in speed they make up for in camouflage ability. These small tropical fish not only change colors while mating, they can also do so in their normal lives to aid them in hunting. Their long snout and flexible tail are two other tools in their hunting arsenal. The snout, which is toothless, can be inserted into crevices where their food is hiding and is then used as a vacuum suck up the food. To keep themselves from floating away while they do this, they can anchor themselves to reefs and seagrass with their tail.

Another unique physical characteristic of the sea horse, which is generally less than a foot long, is that the males have a pouch on their abdomen which holds fertilized eggs. Once the female has done her part by depositing the eggs there, the actual gestating and hatching is left up to the male.

Sea Horse Eating Habits

They may not be large, but sea horses are certainly hungry animals. Young sea horses can eat thousands of small crustaceans each day, and adults also hold their own when it comes to meals. They do not have stomachs, so sea horses must eat frequently to keep nourished, as food passes quickly through them. Small shrimp, krill, and larvae are a large part of their diet, along with other crustaceans.

Sea Horse Habitats

Sea horses can be found all over the world. They like warm, shallow waters and can often be found near coral reefs or other sheltered spots. Due to their slow speed and clumsy swimming they avoid areas with swift currents where they can be easily swept away. The waters near the Bahamas and Central America in general are a perfect home for them.

They are also found in the Mediterranean, off the coast of Africa, near Japan, China, and other Asian countries, as well as Australia. Individual sea horses have a very limited territory, but as can be seen, the species is widespread. They can also be kept as aquarium fish, though their diet can be tricky to replicate in captivity.