Thorny seahorse

Scientific name : Hippocampus histrix

Seahorse up to 15 cm long, thin. Pointed, high spines at the corner of the bony plates. Elongate snout, variable colour (yellow, green, red. Especially the female can be bright. Often bands can be seen on the snout. The name Hippocampus histrix has often been used to identify any spiny seahorse, actually belonging to a species complex. The true H. histrix can be distinguished due to the very long snout with bands, and to the higher spines. In our area confusion is possible with Hippocampus spinosissimus.

Associated organisms
Often living amongst sponges and soft corals.