Yes, a group of seahorses is called a herd. Seahorses are carnivorous fish found in shallow tropical waters. They do not have teeth or a stomach, so food passes quickly through them, which requires that they constantly eat to stay alive. A two-week old seahorse can eat up to 4,000 brine shrimp per day. The average lifespan of seahorses is one to five years. The scientific name is Hippocampus, and there are over 50 kinds of seahorses. The different kinds of seahorses range in size from 1/2 inch to 8 inches.
Mating occurs year-round, usually under a full moon. During mating a female seahorse will deposit her eggs into the pouch of a male. The male fertilizes the eggs by releasing his sperm into the water then swimming through it. Then the male continues to carry the eggs until birth, which is unique in all of nature. Gestation lasts up to six weeks. As few as five or as many as about 1,500 can be born. Less than 1% of young seahorses make it to adulthood, mainly because they have to fend for themselves as soon as they are born.
For more information, pictures, and videos, click to view Seahorse Worlds website.
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