Shorthead seahorse (Hippocampus breviceps)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Syngnathiformes · Family: Syngnathidae · Genus: Hippocampus.

Accepted name: Hippocampus breviceps · Authority: Peters, 1869 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 275189.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Hippocampus tuberculatus Castelnau, 1875.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=275189 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Hippocampus breviceps. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 15 cm · Common length: 12 cm · Depth range: 0–15 m · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: other · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: of no interest · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Adults inhabit inshore waters (Ref. 7300). Occur in small to large aggregations in weed patches attached to rocks on sand, mostly in Sargassum weeds (Ref. 9002). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128812.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 25926) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Hippocampus-breviceps.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,032 georeferenced occurrence records for Hippocampus breviceps are published through GBIF from 1 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 28 distinct locations from a sample of 1,032 records, omitting 24 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 (1,032).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5201086) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5201086&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=275189 (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 breviceps Peters, 1869 as Least Concern (code LC). 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 10063) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/10063/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5201086) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5201086/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

H. breviceps is usually around 10 cm long, with a small, slender body, short snout and raised coronet. Individuals often have fleshy tendrils on the head and back. Colouration is generally drab grey to bright yellow-orange, with small black spots and ringed white ocelli over the trunk and tail. The ventral side of the tail has pale bars.

H. breviceps lives in sheltered coastal reefs associated with macroalgal beds and seagrasses. Individuals have also been found on floating macroalgae, rock reefs, jetty habitats, and sponge reefs below depths of 15 m. More commonly, this species occurs at depths near 5 m.

This carnivorous species feeds on mysids, harpacticoid copepods, and gammarid and caprellid amphipods. It feeds during the day, staying close to the sand or rubble bottom.

H. breviceps breeds on an approximately monthly cycle in the summer, producing 50-100 young per brood. Females deposit eggs into the male's brood pouch, where they are fertilized and protected before the male gives birth to live young.

This species may be threatened locally by coastal development, but this is not prevalent across its range.

Source: Wikipedia: Knobby seahorse — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knobby_seahorse (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.