Unique modes of fish reproduction: Male seahorse is the parent that gives birth

Photo credit: Samart Detsathit (Thailand)

Review: Samart Detsathit and Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)

 

Seahorses (Hippocampus sp.) are unique aquatic animals whether in regard to their shape or their biological features especially they belong to live bearers. The male seahorse has a breeding pouch in which the female parent deposits her eggs upon the mating. The male fertilizes the eggs and incubates them in the breeding pouch until hatching. During incubation, the seahorse embryos depend on the egg yolk although it is believed that the male parent may provide the embryos with some nutrients especially those are needed for its proper development. The specimen shown in the inserted picture is just born in a hatchery in Thailand.

 

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