Hippocampus satomiae, little bigger than a pea, has been found on reefs in Indonesia.

Little bigger than a pea, the smallest known sea horse, Hippocampus satomiae, was discovered at a depth of about 15 meters on reefs in Indonesia, from Derawan island to northern Sulawesi and Borneo. Like other pygmy sea horses, its size and camouflage make it difficult to spot. This species resembles, in texture and color, the sea fans with which it lives. It has a pouch in which it carries its young, which are only 3mm in length.

Animal names ending in -ae honor women, in this case Satomi Onishi, a diving guide who collected the first specimen.

The sea horse is displayed at the Quentin Wheeler International Institute for Species Exploration, Arizona State University (www.species.asu.ed).

Source: Guardian.co.uk

Thanks to Funeno again, for sharing this!

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