Discover Unique Animals: Male Seahorses – The Only Animal That Gets Pregnant And Gives Birth
In the animal world, a unique marine creature stands out for its completely different way of reproducing. Seahorses, the only animal on the planet where the male gets pregnant and gives birth, are a living testament to the diversity and wonder of nature. This article will take you through the details of seahorses and the outstanding features of this strange animal.
Seahorses, also known as hippocampi, are a special marine creature with a head and neck like a horse but living in an aquatic environment. Seahorses have no scales and their backbones are located outside their bodies, which forces them to eat constantly to maintain their energy. Some seahorses can consume up to 3,000 small sea shrimps a day.
Despite living underwater, seahorses are quite slow and inefficient swimmers. They move mainly by flapping their dorsal fins at a rate of 35 times per second. The small pectoral fins help them navigate, while the seahorse’s tail helps them cling to underwater vegetation to avoid being swept away. Adult seahorses range in length from 16 to 35 cm and are known for their monogamy, usually having only one mate for life.
The most unique feature of seahorses is that the male seahorse is responsible for pregnancy and giving birth. When mating, the female seahorse lays eggs in a special pouch on the male’s abdomen. In this pouch, the eggs are fertilized and develop until they hatch. This reproductive cycle lasts about 45 days. The pouch has the ability to regulate temperature, blood flow and salinity to ensure the best development of the eggs.
Baby seahorses are very small when they are born, only the size of a piece of candy. They survive in groups and never return to their father’s pouch after leaving. The survival rate of baby seahorses is very low, only 1/1000. Baby seahorses are easily swept away by ocean currents or become food for other species. As adults, seahorses can live from 1 to 5 years, depending on the species.
Seahorses are widely distributed in tropical and temperate seas around the world, especially in Southeast Asia, South Africa and the Panama Canal. There are currently 54 species of seahorses discovered.
Seahorses, with the characteristic of male seahorses carrying and giving birth, are a living testament to the diversity and wonder of nature. This uniqueness not only highlights the role of seahorses in marine ecosystems but also makes them an important part of the culture and medicine of many countries. These unique features not only highlight their biological value but also contribute to enriching our understanding of the animal world.
