Courtship and Mating:
During the mating season, seahorses engage in elaborate courtship rituals.
Male seahorses display their brood pouches to attract females.
Females deposit their eggs into the male's brood pouch after a complex courtship dance.
Fertilization:
Once the eggs are inside the male's brood pouch, they are fertilized by the male's sperm.
The male seahorse provides nourishment and protection for the developing embryos within his brood pouch throughout the gestation period.
Gestation:
The gestation period for seahorses varies among different species but typically lasts several weeks to a few months.
During this time, the male seahorse carries the fertilized eggs and provides them with oxygen and nutrients.
Birth:
When the embryos are fully developed, the male seahorse goes into labor and gives birth to live young.
Hundreds to thousands of tiny, fully formed seahorses are released into the water during the birthing process.
Parental Care:
Unlike most other fish species, seahorse parents exhibit some level of parental care.
Some male seahorses continue to provide protection for their young, allowing them to seek shelter and refuge in their brood pouches for a brief period after birth.