Scientific Name
Hippocampus kuda  
Pronounce  
Hippocampus kuda庫達海馬
by: Lab of Fish Ecol. and Evo., BRCAS
Author Bleeker, 1852 Depth 0 - 68M
Chinese 庫達海馬 Poisonous Fish No 
Family_Chinese 海龍科 Economic Fish Yes 
Family F295 Syngnathidae Edible Fish No  Chinese In Mainland China 管海馬 
Max Length 30 cm  Aquarium Fish Yes  Common Name 海馬 
Distribution in World India Ocean to Pacific Ocean   Distribution in Taiwan West、South、North、North East、PonFu、ShaoLiuChew 
Habitats Coral、Benthos、Estuary、Coastal、
Lagoon、Coral&Sand 
Holotype Locality Singapore 
Synonyms Hippocamphus kuda, Hippocampus aterrimus, Hippocampus chinensis, Hippocampus hilonis, Hippocampus horai, Hippocampus kuda multiannularis, Hippocampus melanospilos, Hippocampus moluccensis, Hippocampus novaehebudorum, Hippocampus polytaenia, Hippocampus raji, Hippocampus rhynchomacer, Hippocampus taeniops ...all 15..  
Reference 臺灣魚類誌(沈等, 1993);Fishes of Japan(Nakabo, 2002);Fishbase(2005);The Live Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific, Vol.4(FAO,1999)  沈世傑 編 Shih-Chieh Shen ed. 1993 Carpenter, K. E. etc. 1999 Nakabo T. 2002 Nakabo T. 2002 
Specimen List ASIZP0055360. ASIZP0058215. ASIZP0058540. ASIZP0073317. ASIZP0073318. ASIZP0073319. ASIZP0074478. ASIZP0074543. ASIZP0074599. ASIZP0805792. ASIZP0805793. ASIZP0805794. ASIZP0915792. ASIZP0915793. ASIZP0915794. FRIP00545. FRIP00546. NMMBP01075. NMMBP02272. NMMBP03312. NMMSTP00293. NMMSTP01554. NMNSF00406. NMNSF00439. NMNSF00976. USNM00076604.  
Common Name Oceanic sea horse; Sea horse; Oceanic sea horse red; Yellow seahorse; Spotted seahorse; Yellow sea horse 
Redlist Status VU IUCN Redlist: Vulnerable(VU) A4cd 2003-04-30  CITES Appendix 2 CITES Appendix 2 
Characteristic Rings: 11+36 (34-38). Snout length: 2.3 (2.0-2.6) in head length. Dorsal fin rays: 17-18 covering 2+1 rings. Pectoral fin rays: 16 (15-18). Coronet: low-medium, rounded, overhanging at the back, often with a cup-like depression in the top; sometimes with broad flanges; not spiny. Spines: low, rounded bumps only. Other distinctive characters: deep head; deep body; thick snout. Color pattern: often totally black with a grainy texture; alternatively pale yellow or cream with fairly large, dark spots (especially females); may be sandy colored, blending in with the surroundings.
habitats Inhabits seagrass and marine algae areas of estuaries and seaward reefs; also on steep mud slopes. Found in open water and attached to drifting Sargassum up to 20 km from shore. Adults in pairs. 
Distribution Distributed in the Indo-Pacific from Pakistan and India to southern Japan, Hawaii, and the Society Islands. It is mainly found in northern and southern Taiwanese waters. 
Utility Very popular aquarium fish. Highly valued species in traditional Chinese medicine. Has been reared in captivity. International trade is monitored through a licensing system (CITES II, since 5.15.04).