Ecology Summary - Hippocampus guttulatus

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Main Ref.	Lelong, P., 1995
Remarks	Visual and sedentary ambush predator, waiting for small crustaceans and benthic larvae to approach (Ref. 89230 ). Has the ability to change its colour to blend better with its surroundings. This likely plays a role in its feeding strategy and also in predator avoidance (Ref. 52034). Algae were found to be the fourth most common item in the stomachs (Ref. 83361). However there is some speculation that seahorses in general do not feed on algae and that plant material in stomachs of seahorses is probably ingested while feeding on other prey (Ref. 52034). Dwells in coral and rocky reefs, and subtidal rocky substrates (Ref. 128812).

Main Ref.

Lelong, P., 1995

Remarks

Visual and sedentary ambush predator, waiting for small crustaceans and benthic larvae to approach (Ref. 89230 ). Has the ability to change its colour to blend better with its surroundings. This likely plays a role in its feeding strategy and also in predator avoidance (Ref. 52034). Algae were found to be the fourth most common item in the stomachs (Ref. 83361). However there is some speculation that seahorses in general do not feed on algae and that plant material in stomachs of seahorses is probably ingested while feeding on other prey (Ref. 52034). Dwells in coral and rocky reefs, and subtidal rocky substrates (Ref. 128812).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Hippocampus guttulatus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	Benthic; Hard Bottom: rocky;
Substrate Ref.	Camins, E., L.M. Stanton, M.J. Correia and A.C.J. Vincent, 2023
Special habitats	Beds: algae/seaweed; sea grass; Coral Reefs;
Special habitats Ref.	Camins, E., L.M. Stanton, M.J. Correia and A.C.J. Vincent, 2023

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type	mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref.	Lelong, P., 1995
Feeding habit	hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref.	Lelong, P., 1995

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	Original sample		Unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition	3.52	0.39			Troph of adults.
From individual food items	3.50	0.50			Tentative trophic level derived from 1 + troph of a single food item
Ref.	Gurkan, S., E. Taskavak, T.M. Sever and S. Akalin, 2011

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