Giraffe seahorse (Hippocampus camelopardalis)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List.
Last updated
G. H. Ford · via Wikipedia: Giraffe seahorse · Public domain
Giraffe seahorse (Hippocampus camelopardalis) is a marine species in the family Syngnathidae (Chordata › Teleostei › Syngnathiformes), recorded in the World Register of Marine Species as Hippocampus camelopardalis Bianconi, 1854 under AphiaID 212233.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassActinopterygii
- DivisionTeleostei
- OrderSyngnathiformes
- FamilySyngnathidae
- GenusHippocampus
- SpeciesHippocampus camelopardalis
Named by Bianconi, 1854
Close relatives
Other species of Hippocampus with a Codexery entry.
- Barbour's seahorse Hippocampus barbouri
- Big-belly seahorse Hippocampus abdominalis
- Denise's pygmy seahorse Hippocampus denise
- Dwarf seahorse Hippocampus zosterae
- Hippocampus trimaculatus
- Hippocampus kelloggi
- Hippocampus spinosissimus
- Hippocampus bargibanti
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Giraffe seahorse (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 212233 (CC BY 4.0)
Conservation status
Data Deficient (DD)
Data Deficient: there is not enough information to place this species on the risk scale.
Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.1 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Giraffe seahorse
Where the giraffe seahorse (hippocampus camelopardalis) has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (72 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 7 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Syngnathiformes · Family: Syngnathidae · Genus: Hippocampus.
Accepted name: Hippocampus camelopardalis · Authority: Bianconi, 1854 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 212233.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Hippocampus cameleopardalis Bianconi, 1854; Hippocampus cameleopardalus Bianconi, 1854; Hippocampus subcoronatus Günther, 1866.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212233 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Hippocampus camelopardalis. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 10 cm · Depth range: 0–60 m · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: other · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100.
FishBase notes: Found in seagrass and algal beds (Ref. 52034). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 7983) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Hippocampus-camelopardalis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
72 georeferenced occurrence records for Hippocampus camelopardalis are published through GBIF from 5 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 7 distinct locations from a sample of 72 records, omitting 7 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: Madagascar (37); Mozambique (25); Kenya (7); Mauritius (2); South Africa (1).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone; Mauritian Exclusive Economic Zone; Tanzanian Exclusive Economic Zone; South Africa (country); Madagascar.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5201121) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5201121&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212233 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
The IUCN Red List assesses Hippocampus camelopardalis Bianconi, 1854 as Data Deficient (code DD). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.
Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 10064) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/10064/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5201121) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5201121/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Giraffe seahorse (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List assessment.
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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