Hippocampus reidi Ginsburg 1933

Hippocampus reidi Ginsburg, 1933

Common name: Longsnout seahorse

Hippocampus reidi Ginsburg, 1933: 561 (orig. descr.; St. George, Grenada, British West Indies; Porto Bello; Panamá; Jamaica; Haiti; holotype USNM 86596); Beebe & Tee-Van, 1935: 318 (Haiti); Duarte-Bello & Buesa, 1973: 90 (Cuba); Lourie et al. 1999 (redescription, distribution).

Hippocampus obtusus Ginsburg, 1933: 562 (org. descr.; off Cape Atteras, North Carolina, U.S. A;. holotype USNM 84527); Lourie et al. 1999: 117; Smith-Vaniz et al. 1999: 190; Kuiter 2009: 19 (redescription, distribution). Hippocampus poeyi Howell Rivero, 1934: 32 (orig. descr.; Havana, Cuba; holotype MCZ 33913); Lourie et al. 1999: 117; Kuiter 2009: 19 (redescription, distribution).

Diagnosis. (Proportions and meristic data of 104 specimens, 68–188 mm in height). Rings 11 + 30–39; dorsal-fin rays 15–18 on 2 + 1 rings; pectoral-fin rays 14–18; anal-fin rays 4. HL/SnL 2.0–2.6. Coronet little developed, CI 1–2. Spines absents or small: on the head, principally on sphenotic bone with an evident spine on each side of head, and on frontal with a simple or bifurcated spine on each eye; on body and tail, distributed regularly on rings or absent. Dermal appendages often present in juveniles, rarely in adults.

Coloration. Three basic patterns are present in combination or independently: 1) presence of irregular white and black or brown stripes on the rings of the body and tail, where they can be distributed on the dorsal and lateral sides, continuous or interrupted (Figure 2 B); 2) numerous black and white dots, or brown spots all over body and tail (Figure 2 C); 3) a single even color without markings (Figure 3 D). Dorsal fin with diffuse pigmentation, with dark sub-marginal band from first to last ray, and margins free of dark pigmentation (Figure 2 C).

Habitat. In waters from 15 to 55 m in depth. Found on marine algae, sponges, corals, mangrove roots and on artificial substrates.

Distribution. Americas, Western Atlantic: USA, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, Belize, Panama, Jamaica, Barbados, Granada, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil (Vari, 1982; Lourie et al., 1999; Piacentino, 2008; Boehm et al., 2013; present study).