Seahorse

Seahorses are a group of small marine fish species found in shallow coastal waters worldwide, especially among seagrass beds, coral reefs and mangroves, instantly recognizable for their upright swimming posture, horse-like head, bony external plates instead of scales, and a prehensile tail used to grip onto seagrass and coral for stability against currents. They are unusual among animals in that the male carries and nurtures fertilized eggs in a specialized brood pouch until the young are born, a role reversal rare in the animal kingdom. Seahorses are weak, slow swimmers that rely on camouflage to avoid predators, and many species face population pressure from habitat loss and heavy demand in traditional medicine and the aquarium trade, leading several species to be classified as vulnerable or near threatened.