Persian Gulf Sea Horse

Photo: edblackthorne · CC BY-NC

Seahorses are consistently found clinging to the ropes, wire frames, and sea fans that have colonised the reef structures, their prehensile tails wrapped around any available anchor point. The males brood fertilised eggs in a ventral pouch and give birth to miniature juveniles — a reversal of typical vertebrate reproductive roles that makes them a perennial fascination for divers. Night dives reveal courtship behaviour including synchronised colour changes and the male-female 'greeting' dance that pairs perform every morning.