West Australian seahorse (Hippocampus subelongatus)
Swaying in the current, anchored by their grasping tails, seahorses are actually a type of small fish - with bony plates protecting their bodies instead of scales.
Their long snouts end in tiny, toothless mouths. The seahorse feeds on tiny crustaceans, which are swallowed whole.Most species of seahorse live in pairs. Female seahorses pass their eggs to the males, who incubate them in a protective pouch.
West Australian seahorses vary in colour but can be distinguished by the series of brown lines along the snout. Growing to about 22 centimetres in length, they are found in sheltered reefs, sponge gardens and seagrass beds along the Western Australian coast.
