Mantellum Seahorse [Mantellum hippocampus]
Description
The Mantellum Seahorse is a small, uniquely shaped species that primarily inhabits warm, shallow waters of the tropical oceans. They are known for their unusual equine shape, their method of reproduction (the males carry the eggs), and their lack of a caudal fin. Their bodies are covered in hard, bony plates that form a unique pattern of rings along their body, which can be used to identify individual animals. They are typically solitary animals, but will occasionally form small groups. Their diet primarily consists of small crustaceans and plankton.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Clams, Oysters, and Scallops
Bivalvia
|
| Order |
File Clams
Limida
|
| Family |
File Clams
Limidae
|
| Genus |
Mantellum
Mantellum
|