Family : Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses) , subfamily: Hippocampinae
Order : Syngnathiformes  (pipefishes and seahorses)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Thorny seahorse
Fish Name : Hippocampus histrix
Max size : 17.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 11441)
Environment : reef-associated; non-migratory ; depth range - 82 m
Climate : tropical; 32°N - 18°S
Global Importance : fisheries: highly commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: Tanzania and South Africa to Hawaii and Tahiti, north to Japan, south to New Caledonia. Reported from the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819). This name is used for at least four distinct species (Ref. 30915). International trade is monitored through a licensing system (CITES II, since 5.15.04) and a minimum size of 10 cm applies.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-18; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 4-4. Description: (based on 22 specimens): Adult height: 7.9-13.5cm. Rings: 11 + 35 (34-37). Snout length: 1.7-2.0 in head length. Dorsal fin rays: 17 (15-18) covering 2+1 rings. Pectoral fin rays: 18 (17-20). Coronet: medium, with four or five very long, very sharp spines. Spines: extremely long and sharp; all spines well-developed. Other distinctive characters: very long snout (more than 1/2 head length); single cheek spine; dorsal fin base very short; always has at least as many pectoral as dorsal fin rays (whereas most species have more dorsal fin rays); sharp ventral keel; prominent spine in front of coronet.Color pattern: base color variable, including pale pink, yellow or green; spines often dark tipped; may have pale ‘saddles’, often filled with small dark spots, across dorsolateral surfaces; snout not striped.
Biology : A rare inhabitant of shallow sheltered reefs, found among clumps of algae or in seagrass beds. Large adult pelagic and probably associated with drifting debris. Associated with sponges and sea-squirts (Ref. 30915, 58302). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Use in traditional Chinese medicine is increasing with the rise in patent medicines (Ref. 30915). Not common in the aquarium trade (Ref. 30915)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Lourie, S.A., A.C.J. Vincent and H.J. Hall. 1999. (Ref. 30915)

India country information
Common Names : കുതിര മീന്, കുതിരമീന് , Kuthirameen
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses