Rings 11 +(35-38); D 19-21; P 17-18; A 4-5, subdorsal rings 3+ 1, snout
length 2.2-2.5 in HL. Head and body somewhat spinose in young, often
with well-developed dermal flaps.
Reaches 10 cm. Inhambane to Durban; Zanzibar and
Mauritius.
145.17 Hippocampus capensis
Boulenger, 1900
PLATE 24
Knysna seahorse
Knysna-seeperdjie
Hippocampus capensis Boulenger, 1900: 11, PI. 3, Fig. 2 (Knysna
Estuary); Smith, SFSA No. 345*; 1963: 518*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 103*.
Rings (10-11)+(32-34); D 16-18; P 15-17; A 3; subdorsal rings (3-2)+ 1,
snout length about 3 in HL. Spinules on rings and small coronet present in
juveniles, usually obsolete in adults.
Reaches 7 cm. Known from Knysna estuary (34°S), Keurbooms estuary, Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay.
453.17 Hippocampus capensis: left: 4.5 em male; right: 4.5 em female (both
Knysna).
145.18 Hippocampus histrix: 5 em from crown of head to curve of tail fY'I. of
.
East London).
145: SYNGNATHIDAE (SEAHORSES & PIPEFISHES)
145.18 Hippocampus histrix
Kaup, 1853
Thorny seahorse
Stekel-seeperdjie
Hippocampus histrix Kaup, 1853: 229 (Japan); Kaup, 1856: 17*;
Fowler, 1935: 361; Smith, 1963: 518*. Hippocampus hystrix: Smith, SFSA
No. 344.
Rings 11 +(33-34); D 17-19; P 17-18; A 4; subdorsal rings 2+(1-2),
snout longer than remainder of head. H. jayakari Boulenger, 1900,
characterised mainly by a somewhat shorter snout (ca. 2 in HL), may
prove to be a junior synonym of H. histrix.
Attains 15 cm. Uncommon in our area, but recorded
from vicinity of Durban; Red Sea to Japan.
145.19 Hippocampus kuda
Bleeker, 1852
Yellow seahorse
Geel seeperdjie
Hippocampus kuda Bleeker, 1852: 82 (Singapore); Smith, SFSA No.
347*; 1963: 518*. Hippocampus natalensis von Bonde, 1923: 9, PI. I, Fig.
1 (Natal).
Rings 11 +(34-37); D 15-18; P 15-17; A 4; subdorsal rings 2+(1-2);
snout length variable, about equal to postorbital length. Coronet low,
usually bifid distally.
Reportedly reaches 30 cm TL. Mossel Bay to Mozambique; Red Sea, Kenya, Madagascar and eastward to Japan
and central Pacific islands.
145.19 Hippocampus kuda: left: 6 em female (N. Mozambique); right: 8.5 em
male (Inhaea Id.) measured from top of head to bend in tail.
145.20 Hippocampus trimaculatus
Leach,1814
Longnose seahorse
Langneus-seeperdjie
Hippocampus trimaculatus Leach, 1814: 104 (Indian and Chinese
Seas); Smith, 1961: 566, No. 344a; 1963: 518* (not seen); 1965: 566.
453
length 2.2-2.5 in HL. Head and body somewhat spinose in young, often
with well-developed dermal flaps.
Reaches 10 cm. Inhambane to Durban; Zanzibar and
Mauritius.
145.17 Hippocampus capensis
Boulenger, 1900
PLATE 24
Knysna seahorse
Knysna-seeperdjie
Hippocampus capensis Boulenger, 1900: 11, PI. 3, Fig. 2 (Knysna
Estuary); Smith, SFSA No. 345*; 1963: 518*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 103*.
Rings (10-11)+(32-34); D 16-18; P 15-17; A 3; subdorsal rings (3-2)+ 1,
snout length about 3 in HL. Spinules on rings and small coronet present in
juveniles, usually obsolete in adults.
Reaches 7 cm. Known from Knysna estuary (34°S), Keurbooms estuary, Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay.
453.17 Hippocampus capensis: left: 4.5 em male; right: 4.5 em female (both
Knysna).
145.18 Hippocampus histrix: 5 em from crown of head to curve of tail fY'I. of
.
East London).
145: SYNGNATHIDAE (SEAHORSES & PIPEFISHES)
145.18 Hippocampus histrix
Kaup, 1853
Thorny seahorse
Stekel-seeperdjie
Hippocampus histrix Kaup, 1853: 229 (Japan); Kaup, 1856: 17*;
Fowler, 1935: 361; Smith, 1963: 518*. Hippocampus hystrix: Smith, SFSA
No. 344.
Rings 11 +(33-34); D 17-19; P 17-18; A 4; subdorsal rings 2+(1-2),
snout longer than remainder of head. H. jayakari Boulenger, 1900,
characterised mainly by a somewhat shorter snout (ca. 2 in HL), may
prove to be a junior synonym of H. histrix.
Attains 15 cm. Uncommon in our area, but recorded
from vicinity of Durban; Red Sea to Japan.
145.19 Hippocampus kuda
Bleeker, 1852
Yellow seahorse
Geel seeperdjie
Hippocampus kuda Bleeker, 1852: 82 (Singapore); Smith, SFSA No.
347*; 1963: 518*. Hippocampus natalensis von Bonde, 1923: 9, PI. I, Fig.
1 (Natal).
Rings 11 +(34-37); D 15-18; P 15-17; A 4; subdorsal rings 2+(1-2);
snout length variable, about equal to postorbital length. Coronet low,
usually bifid distally.
Reportedly reaches 30 cm TL. Mossel Bay to Mozambique; Red Sea, Kenya, Madagascar and eastward to Japan
and central Pacific islands.
145.19 Hippocampus kuda: left: 6 em female (N. Mozambique); right: 8.5 em
male (Inhaea Id.) measured from top of head to bend in tail.
145.20 Hippocampus trimaculatus
Leach,1814
Longnose seahorse
Langneus-seeperdjie
Hippocampus trimaculatus Leach, 1814: 104 (Indian and Chinese
Seas); Smith, 1961: 566, No. 344a; 1963: 518* (not seen); 1965: 566.
453