What Colors Are the West African Seahorse?

The West African seahorse (Hippocampus algiricus), a creamy brown fish with black and brown patterning and white spots, is found in the waters along the west coast of Africa. A species of the Syngnathidae family of social ocean fish, the West African seahorse is considered potentially endangered because of demand for its use in traditional Asian medicine.

  1. Appearance

    • The West African seahorse reaches a maximum height of 19 centimeters (7.5 inches) and has the long nose, curved spine and long curling tail typical of Syngnathidae. Both males and females are light brown patterned with black, and in some individuals white, dots.

    Habitat

    • Although little is known about the habitat of the West African seahorse, these fish appear to frequent tidepool areas and bays with considerable amounts of sea grasses -- their primary food. West African seahorses remain in localized habitat areas, and this makes them vulnerable to decline from poaching for the Asian medicine trade.

    Life Cycle

    • Like other species of seahorse, the West African seahorse has highly structured social behavior that includes intense parenting of their live-born young. Seahorses are social fish, and males take a prominent role in the rearing of the young. Little is known about the lifespan of the West African seahorse, since few have been studied in captivity and their numbers may be rapidly declining.

    Endangered Status

    • The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has placed the West African seahorse on its Red List of endangered and potentially endangered species. Although the West African seahorse has received the designation of "insufficient data" to make a full determination, concerns about its future remain. As its numbers decline due to poaching, the West African seahorse remains relatively unknown among seahorse species.