Group name: Herd. Seahorses have no teeth and no stomach. Food ... seahorse. Malaysian pygmy seahorse. This seahorse is
The Life Cycle of a Seahorse By Belinda Jiao (P6A) Rachel Yuen (P6A) Tiffany Wu (P6A) Rachael Leung (P6A) Slide 1 of 12
Seahorse Profile Type : Fish Diet : Carnivore Average lifespan : 1 to 5 years Size : 0.6 to 14 inches (1.5 to 35 cm) Group name: Herd Seahorses have no teeth and no stomach. Food passes through their digestive systems so quickly that they must eat almost constantly to stay alive. Slide 2 of 12
Species short-snouted seahorse mustang seahorse
Malaysian pygmy seahorse
sunburst seahorse
This seahorse is actually camouflaged against this piece of coral !
leafy seahorse Slide 3 of 12
Stages The life cycle of a seahorse can be divided into 4 different stages : • infants ( birth – 6 weeks ) • juveniles ( 6 weeks – 4 months ) • sub adults ( 4 months – 6 months ) • adults ( from 6 months onward) They are based on changes in their food, growth rate, and causes of death. Slide 4 of 12
new seahorse baby is born!
A fry (new-born seahorse)
6 weeks – the newly-born seahorse has grown to a length of 11 inches, and starts to build up an appetite.
4 months – the first indications of pouch development and a time of rapid growth, the young is now 13 inches long.
Mating
holding tails
8 months – growth stops, the seahorse has reached its maximum size.
6 months – growth slows, pouch development is complete, they are now ready to mate.
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Infant • Food : brine shrimp • Growth rate : very rapid growth, the baby seahorse quadruples in size. • Mortality (cause of death) : eaten by predators or being swept into ocean currents
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Juvenile • Growth rate : rapid growth, first indications of pouch development, the young seahorse grows from 11 to 13 inches. • Mortality : outer bone* develops, the risk of death drops sharply * the outer bone has a nasty taste, dropping the risk of it being eaten by predators Slide 7 of 12
Sub adult • Growth rate : growth is slow, the male seahorse’s pouch development is complete, allowing sub adult seahorses to begin mating. • Mortality : from exhaustion and stress during heavy storms
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Adult Adulthood is the reproductive phase of a seahorses life. •Growth rate : growth stops at this stage, the adults have reached their maximum size and are now very mature.
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Reproduction • Females produce the eggs, which are deposited in the male’s pouch, who becomes pregnant and gives birth to the offspring. • A seahorse’s pregnancy lasts for two to four weeks. • When the baby seahorse is ready to be born, the male undergoes muscular contractions to expel them from his pouch. He usually gives birth at night and is ready for the next batch of eggs by morning when his mate returns. • Seahorses do not care for their young once they are born. Slide 10 of 12
reproductive ‘time out’ period
The pair prepares for the next batch of eggs, the newly born seahorses are on their own now.
the fry is ready to be born, the male expels them out of his pouch through muscular contractions at night.
Courtship – the pair synchronize their movements so that both are prepared for the ‘big day’.
female produces eggs, which are deposited in the male’s pouch.
the eggs hatch in the male’s brood pouch for 2-4 weeks.
pouch Slide 11 of 12
Source of Information 1. 2. 3.
http://www.seahorse.com http://www.wikipedia.com http://forum.punjabijunktion.co.in/seahorses-worlds-mostromantic-species/
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