Giraffe+Seahorse


 * __ [[image:seahorse_2.jpg width="179" height="320" align="left"]]Common Name: __** Giraffe Seahorse

**__ Scientific Name: __**// Hippocampus camelopardalis //

**__ Phylum: __** Chordata

**__ Class: __** Actinopterygii

**__ Location: __** Giraffe Seahorses are located throughout the Western Indian Ocean and near South African coasts.

**__ Size: __** They grow a minimum length of approximately 6.2 and can reach up tp a maximum length of 10 centimeters.

**__ Description of habitat: __** Giraffe Seahorses live in warmer, tropical water; feed on shrimp and inhabit coral reefs and sea grass.

**__ Living Requirements: __** They require large amounts of shrimp and other food sources; the ability to maintain their strict reproduction operations.

**__ Life cycle of animal: __** Only two main life stages; juveniles (unable to reproduce) and adults (able to reproduce).

**__ Male/female differences: __** No large visual differences between males and females- except for when males are carrying offspring. They then have puffed out abdominals.

**__ 2-3 interesting facts: __**
 * 1) Unlike most fish species, they are monogamous and mate for life.
 * 2) Seahorse are the only animals one Earth where the male bears the unborn offspring.
 * 3) Seahorse are actually rather inept swimmers and therefore can easily die of exhaustion is caught in stormy waters.

**__ Human impact: __** The giraffe seahorse population had not been greatly affected in any way by the human population.

__Zookeeper's Sources:__ [] [|http://www.poseidonsrealm.com/giraffe.htm\] []