1. Egg:
- Female seahorses lay eggs, which are fertilized by males.
- The eggs are typically carried and incubated by the male seahorse in a specialized brood pouch.
2. Newly Hatched Fry:
- After a period of incubation, the eggs hatch, releasing tiny, fully-formed seahorses known as fry.
- The fry are planktonic, meaning they drift freely in the water and rely on external food sources like zooplankton.
3. Juvenile Seahorses:
- As the fry continues to feed and grow, they develop into juvenile seahorses.
- During this stage, they closely resemble adult seahorses in appearance but are smaller in size.
- Juveniles actively hunt for food, such as small crustaceans and brine shrimp, using their elongated snouts.
4. Sub-Adult Seahorses:
- As juvenile seahorses continue to grow, they reach the sub-adult stage.
- During this phase, they undergo rapid growth and further development of their physical features, such as their dorsal fin and elongated snout.
- Sub-adult seahorses may exhibit changes in coloration, becoming more vibrant and intricate in pattern.
5. Adult Seahorses:
- Finally, seahorses reach adulthood.
- Adult seahorses are typically larger in size compared to juveniles and sub-adults.
- They are sexually mature and capable of reproducing.
- Adult seahorses continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace, throughout their lifetime.
It's important to note that the growth and development of seahorses can vary among species and may be influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, diet, and habitat conditions.