In one of nature’s most extraordinary evolutionary feats, male seahorses give birth to live young. After a female lays her eggs inside a brood pouch located on the underside of the male’s tail, he fertilizes them and carries them until they are ready to be born. The entire process can take weeks, and the male must carefully protect the eggs and provide them with the proper environment for development.
Once the eggs are mature, the male goes into labor and gives birth to live seahorses. The tiny seahorses, called fry, are fully developed and able to swim away immediately. They are vulnerable to predators and must find food and shelter on their own.
Male seahorses are incredibly devoted parents and will often carry the fry around on their tails until they are large enough to fend for themselves. This unique reproductive strategy is one of the things that makes seahorses so fascinating and beloved by marine enthusiasts around the world.