Swimming through the cool waters off southern Australia, the potbelly seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) is one of the most fascinating and least studied creatures in the sea. In fact, it wasn't until 1999 that the first seahorse identification guide was published. See how many you can identify at Shedd Aquarium's Seahorse Symphony.
The potbelly's ponderous paunch isn't due to too many trips to the all-you-can-eat krill bar. The potbelly seahorse simply got the name, flattering or not, from its swollen belly.
An interesting fact about seahorses is that only males become pregnant. Before breeding begins, there's an extensive courtship period between male and female potbellies. The male initiates the relationship, and if the female is interested and gets the thumbs-up from her best girlfriend, the courtship can last for several days.
The reproduction process begins once the female's eggs reach maturity. She'll squirt 150-300 eggs from a chamber in her body into a special pouch on the male's body. Inside the male's pouch, the eggs incubate in an oxygen-rich environment for approximately 21 days. Typically, the male gives birth during the night. Once the male has delivered, the female returns and the process can begin all over again.
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