Red-banded pipefish

Red Banded Pipefish

Guardian: Mike Moylan

Corythoichthys amplexus

What is fascinating about seahorses and pipefish is that the male carries the young. The female lays the eggs in a pouch on the male where he protects, nourishes and gives birth to them.

What is even more interesting is that if the male meets a more attractive female while ‘pregnant’ then the male will absorb (or eat) some of the young so as to build up his energy and prepare for his next pregnancy.