Ecology of Hippocampus hippocampus
 
Main Ref. Lourie, S.A., A.C.J. Vincent and H.J. Hall, 1999
Remarks Occurs mostly in shallow inshore waters among algae (Ref. 6733). May over-winter in deeper water. It is primarily an ambush predator, but also actively hunts for planktonic and epibenthic prey; feeds also on organic debris (Ref. 89230). Dwells in seagrass (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 hippocampus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate Soft Bottom: rocky;
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats Beds: algae/seaweed; sea grass;
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 plants/detritus+animals (troph. 2.2-2.79)
Feeding type Ref. Lourie, S.A., A.C.J. Vincent and H.J. Hall, 1999
Feeding habit variable
Feeding habit Ref. Lourie, S.A., A.C.J. Vincent and H.J. Hall, 1999
Trophic Level(s)
Estimation method Original sample Unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 3.15 0.36 Troph of juv./adults from 1 study.
From individual food items 2.99 0.32 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref. Bell, J.D. and M.L. Harmelin-Vivien, 1983
(e.g. 346)
(e.g. oophagy)
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