Species: Hippocampus erectus, Lined Seahorse, Spotted Seahorse

Hippocampus erectus Perry, 1810

Lined Seahorse, Spotted Seahorse

Neck curved, with head at about right angle to body; coronet variable, a low, triangular wedge or a ridge with raised sharp edges or sharp spines; body relatively deep; snout short (33-42% of head length, shorter than part of head behind eye) and slender; cheek spine single or double; dorsal fin large, its base elevated, 18-19 (16-20) rays; pectorals (15-16 (14-18) rays) and anal small; no pelvic fins; tail prehensile, curlable, without a tail fin; body spines blunt to sharp; head, body and tail of some individuals with long branched skin flaps; 11 body rings (usually 1st, 3rd, 5th and 11th rings enlarged); 36 (34-39) tail rings; brood pouch on trunk, but extends along 5-7 tail rings.

Light yellow to nearly black; thin white lines radiating out below, above and behind eye, extending across operculum; body blotched, with irregular thin stripes along belly and thin bars on flank; female often with white dots on tail.

Reaches 19 cm.

Reefs, seagrass and macroalgal beds; often attached to drifting vegetation.

Depth range: 1-117 m.

Nova Scotia to Brazil. The Brazilian form likely is a separate species.