1. Receiving Eggs from the Female: During mating, the female sea horse deposits her eggs into a pouch located on the male's abdomen. The brood pouch is specially designed to hold the eggs and protect them from external threats.
2. Fertilisation: Once the eggs are inside the brood pouch, the male sea horse uses his sperm to fertilise them. Internal fertilisation ensures a higher chance of successful reproduction compared to external fertilisation.
3. Nurturing the Developing Embryos: The male sea horse carries the fertilised eggs in his brood pouch for a specific period, which can vary depending on the species. During this time, he provides them with nutrients, oxygen, and protection from the surrounding environment.
4. Providing Oxygen: The brood pouch is highly vascularised, which means it contains a dense network of blood vessels. This enables efficient gas exchange between the male's bloodstream and the developing embryos, ensuring a constant supply of oxygen.
5. Maintenance of the Optimal Environment: Male sea horses have the ability to regulate the internal conditions of their brood pouch, including factors like temperature, salinity, and pH. This helps ensure optimal conditions for the developing young seahorses.
6. Protection from Predators: By carrying the eggs and developing young within the brood pouch, the male sea horse offers them protection from predators, harsh currents, and other environmental hazards.
7. Birth of the Young Seahorses: After the eggs hatch, the fully-developed young seahorses are released from the brood pouch into the surrounding water. They emerge as miniature versions of adult seahorses and are capable of swimming and feeding on their own.
It is worth noting that the level of paternal care exhibited by male sea horses can vary among different species. While most species follow the general pattern described above, there are exceptions and variations in reproductive strategies.