Blue Season Bali Newsletter July 2010
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Bali Diving - Critter Life
Which marine animal was only discovered when its host gorgonian was being examined in a lab?
The Pygmy Seahorse - Yes, I know the gorgonian gave it away, but I had to give you a chance……
This minute creature is one of the most sought after marine animals especially by divers and and even more so by underwater photographers. It is undoubtedly one of the most well camouflaged species in the oceans, being extremely difficult to spot amongst the gorgonian coral it inhabits and once found it still proves to be a difficult subject to photograph, due to its size and camouflage.
 Its camouflage is made up of large, bulbous tubercles that cover the body and match the colour and shape of the polyps of its host gorgonian coral, while its body matches the stem. It is not known whether individuals can change colour if they change hosts, although the ability to change colour according to their surroundings does exist in some other seahorse species. Other distinctive characteristics include a fleshy head and body, a very short snout, and a long, prehensile tail.
Pygmy seahorses are unique from larger seahorses in other ways apart from their size. There is no pouch at the base of the tail. The still male incubates the eggs in a brooding cavity in the trunk (body) region with a downward facing opening. Breeding occurs year-round, and gestation averages two weeks. The young look like miniature adult seahorses, are independent from birth, and receive no further parental care.
Adults are usually found in pairs or clusters of pairs, with up to 28 recorded on a single gorgonian, and typically grow to a length of 2cm. Blue Season Bali recently found one gorgonian at a dive site in Amed with at least 8 on a single fan, unfortunately our Instructor that day (Phil) could not count any further as he had run out of fingers!!!!!
The pygmy seahorse is found in coastal areas ranging from southern Japan and Indonesia to northern Australia and New Caledonia on reefs and slopes at a depth of 10-40 m. Here in Bali they are found at many of the top dive sites including Tulamben, Amed and Padang Bai, if you wish to join Blue Season Bali on a Pygmy Seahorse hunt, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Contact us if you would like to meet the Pygmy Seahorse in Bali.
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