Least Concern· population decreasing· assessed 2024

Pygmy Seahorse

Hippocampus bargibanti

Sighting evidence at Dauin Marine Sanctuary, Dumaguete

Photo: ollieclarke17 · CC BY-NC

Hippocampus bargibanti lives in obligate symbiosis with Muricella gorgonian sea fans, perfectly matching the fan's polyp colour and texture in one of the most remarkable examples of camouflage in the ocean. Dauin's sea fans regularly host multiple individuals on a single fan, and divers with sharp eyes can sometimes locate three or four pygmy seahorses within centimetres of each other.

Evidence at this site

0 records within 25 km

Confidence: low

No date on file

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Pygmy Seahorse

Evidence at this site

Also seen at other sites