Coleman's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus colemani)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List.
Coleman's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus colemani) is a marine species in the family Syngnathidae (Chordata › Teleostei › Syngnathiformes), recorded in the World Register of Marine Species as Hippocampus colemani Kuiter, 2003 under AphiaID 275190.
- Scientific name
- Hippocampus colemani
- Authority
- Kuiter, 2003
- Family
- Syngnathidae
- Order
- Syngnathiformes
- Maximum length
- 2.6500000953674316 cm
- Depth range
- 3–12 m
- Habitat zone
- demersal
- Iucn red list
- Data Deficient
- Gbif occurrence records
- 21
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Syngnathiformes · Family: Syngnathidae · Genus: Hippocampus.
Accepted name: Hippocampus colemani · Authority: Kuiter, 2003 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 275190.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=275190 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Hippocampus colemani. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 2.6500000953674316 cm · Depth range: 3–12 m · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: other · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
FishBase notes: Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Found in sand bottoms with sparse Zostera and Halophilia in 4-12 m (Ref 90102). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128812.
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 61638) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Hippocampus-colemani.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
21 georeferenced occurrence records for Hippocampus colemani are published through GBIF from 5 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 8 distinct locations from a sample of 21 records, omitting 2 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: Australia (9); Chinese Taipei (6); Northern Mariana Islands (4); Fiji (1); Papua New Guinea (1).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5201055) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5201055&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=275190 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
The IUCN Red List assesses Hippocampus colemani Kuiter, 2003 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 47728602) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/47728602/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5201055) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5201055/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
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