Erectus Seahorse - Hippocampus erectus - Erectus Colored Seahorse - Lined Seahorse Sea Horse @$139.98 2/$278.00

The Erectus Seahorse, like its fellow seahorses, is one of the most unusual in appearance of all fishes. Its upright position, horse-like head set at right angles to the body, and jointed armor make it resemble a knight in a chess set. The Erectus Seahorse has a prehensile tail, which it uses to hold onto seaweed and coral. The scales have been replaced by rings of about 50 rectangular bony plates, encasing the body in a semi-rigid skeleton. The eyes can swivel independently or converge to achieve binocular vision. The most distinguishing feature between the male and the female Erectus Seahorse is the kangaroo-like pouch that the male has on its ventral side, used for reproduction. The Erectus Seahorse is easily separated from other species of seahorse by a pattern of dark lines on a lighter background in its coloring.

The Erectus Seahorses reproduce sexually through internal fertilization and spawn during every season. The male cares for the young. Male seahorses have an incubation pocket, similar to the pouch of a marsupial mammal, on the lower side of the tail, with an opening that can be closed off. During courtship, female Erectus Seahorse spray between 250 and 650 eggs into the male brood pocket, depending on the size of the individual. Development in the brood pocket lasts between 20 and 21 days. They practice monogamy.

The Erectus Seahorse swims weakly, propelled largely by the rapid motion of its dorsal fin and pectoral fins. When moving from one perch to another, they move so slowly that it would take one about 5 minutes to cross a bathtub.

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