Bargibant’s pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) are nearly indistinguishable from their habitats due to their size and extreme camouflage. They are so well camouflaged that Bargibant’s pygmy seahorse was only discovered after a host gorgonian coral was collected and observed by marine biologist George Bargibant.
Bargibant’s pygmy seahorse grows to a maximum length of 2.4 cm and has rounded tubercles on its body that matches the colour and shape of its host gorgonian coral. A single gorgonian can be home to up to 28 pairs of Bargibant’s pygmy seahorses.
As a coastal species, Bargibant’s pygmy seahorses suffer from habitat destruction through indiscriminate fishing practices like blast fishing and gillnetting, as well as pollution and coastal development. The species is also impacted by the effects of climate change, including increased ocean acidification and temperatures, that harm pygmy seahorse coral reef habitats. Further research is needed to understand the full extent of these threats on pygmy seahorses and their host gorgonians.
I captured this image in Duain, a small village south of Dumaguete on Negros Island in the Philippines. The gorgonian coral was down at 30m and had nothing else surrounding it for 10m in all directions. We only saw the one pygmy seahorse on this coral.
Bargibant’s pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) are nearly indistinguishable from their habitats due to their size and extreme camouflage. They are so well camouflaged that Bargibant’s pygmy seahorse was only discovered after a host gorgonian coral was collected and observed by marine biologist George Bargibant.
Bargibant’s pygmy seahorse grows to a maximum length of 2.4 cm and has rounded tubercles on its body that matches the colour and shape of its host gorgonian coral. A single gorgonian can be home to up to 28 pairs of Bargibant’s pygmy seahorses.
As a coastal species, Bargibant’s pygmy seahorses suffer from habitat destruction through indiscriminate fishing practices like blast fishing and gillnetting, as well as pollution and coastal development. The species is also impacted by the effects of climate change, including increased ocean acidification and temperatures, that harm pygmy seahorse coral reef habitats. Further research is needed to understand the full extent of these threats on pygmy seahorses and their host gorgonians.
I captured this image in Duain, a small village south of Dumaguete on Negros Island in the Philippines. The gorgonian coral was down at 30m and had nothing else surrounding it for 10m in all directions. We only saw the one pygmy seahorse on this coral.
