Hippocampus abdominalis
Big-bellied seahorse | Bigbelly Seahorse | Eastern Potbellied Seahorse | Large Seahorse | Potbelly Seahorse | Hippocampus bleekeri
Similar Species
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Variable but usually yellow or brown with black blotches. Body ribbed with a network of ridges, and has a distinct pot belly. Similar shape and colouration to the potbelly seahorse, but lacks long filaments above the eye. Another species that may contain several distinct species or subspecies under the one title.
Information
Max Size: 35 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 9.7-22.2°C
Depth: 0-30m
Habitat Generalization Index: N/A
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Data Deficient
Occurrence: Infrequent (7.2% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Few (4 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney