How are seahorse babies protected?

Male seahorses have a unique ability to reproduce. They have a brood pouch, which is a pouch on their belly, where the female seahorse deposits the eggs after mating. The male then fertilizes the eggs and carries them in the brood pouch until they are ready to hatch. During the gestation period, which can last from ten days to several months depending on the seahorse species, the male seahorse protects and nourishes the eggs by providing oxygen and nutrients through a special tissue that lines the brood pouch. Once the eggs hatch, the baby seahorses are released into the water, where they fend for themselves.