It can grow skin filaments to imitate algal fronds. As if that wasn t enough, encrusting organisms settle on its skin providing yet more camouflage. This talent for costume changing has fooled the scientific community with over 120 named species of seahorses on the books . Preliminary research by Dr. Hall and her colleagues suggests that the actual number is actually closer to only 32. Pairs of seahorses have been consistently found at Ladder Labyrinth and Torens Point.
Research indicates seahorses mature at six to twelve months.
Seahorses are monogamous with evidence that a pair will mate repeatedly and exclusively eschewing opportunities to interact with non-partners. The daily greeting rituals between long-term faithful pairs consist of dancing and promenading for a period of five to ten minutes with the pair separating for the remainder of the day. Seasonal mating periods can last for 9 hours while the female transfers eggs to the male. It is the male who carries the eggs until the pregnancy is completed. Unfortunately, seahorse existence is threatened by coastal development and destruction of habitat.