Common Seahorse
Hippocampus hippocampus
Tiny, slow, and brilliantly camouflaged. Spotting one is a badge of honour — bring patience and a sharp-eyed guide.
- Size
- 6–15 cm
- Depth
- 2–25 m
- Sighting odds
- rare
- IUCN status
- DD
About this species
Seahorses cling to seagrass and gorgonians with their prehensile tails, swaying with the current to look like just another piece of vegetation. They feed on tiny crustaceans and are surprisingly small — most Red Sea seahorses are 8-12 cm. Males brood the eggs in a belly pouch and 'give birth' to up to 2,000 babies.
Fun facts
- Males get pregnant — the only animal where this is true
- Mate for life
- Have no stomach — must eat constantly
- Eyes move independently like a chameleon
Best sites for this species
Abu Hashish Lagoon
A protected sandy lagoon inside the Abu Hashish reef system — flat, calm, and packed with critters. Our favourite spot for buoyancy training and macro photography.
Ras Abdalla
A quiet point dive south of Hurghada with excellent macro life — ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, and the occasional seahorse hide in the seagrass beds.
Want to dive with common seahorse?
Tell us when you're coming and we'll plan a dive that maximises your chances.