General Description

Body compressed with a large abdomen, completely encased in bony rings; snout relatively long, tubular; tail long, prehensile; top of head often with filaments. Coloured to match surrounding sponges and macroalgae - usually yellowish, to red and brown, often with irregular darker spots and a broadly banded tail. To 30 cm.

Biology

Bigbelly Seahorses often cling to sponges, macroalgae such as kelp holdfasts, and other structures on reefs. They are the largest and most common seahorse in southern waters, and are locally abundant in some areas, including under piers in Port Phillip Bay.

Habitat

A range of habitats from low rocky reefs in shallow estuaries, to deep tidal channels and deeper coastal reefs, in depths of 0-100 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

New Zealand and south-eastern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Seahorses, pipefish and allies

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

30 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Identify

• Fishes - Pipefishes and Seahorses

Conservation Status

• DSE Advisory List : Not listed
• EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
• IUCN Red List : Data Deficient
• Fisheries Act 1995 : Protected Aquatic Biota