Pygmy Seahorse

Photo: Julian Hsu · CC BY-NC

Bargibant's pygmy seahorses live exclusively on sea fans of the genus Muricella and are virtually invisible to the untrained eye, their tubercle-covered bodies perfectly matching the colour and texture of the host coral polyps. Individuals are site-faithful and can be found on the same fan for months or years, making return visits rewarding for photographers who have learned the exact locations. They feed on tiny crustaceans drifting past the fan and breed by transferring eggs into the male's brood pouch, which inflates visibly when pregnant.