Slender Seahorse (Hippocampus reidi)
2007 IUCN Red List – 2002 Photo Gallery
Slender Seahorse (Hippocampus reidi) is found in the western Atlantic waters of the Caribbean and Central and Southern America. The species was listed in 1996 as Vulnerable. This assessment was based on suspected past declines in range area and habitat, as well as on potential levels of exploitation (it is caught and sold dried as tourist souvenirs, with live animals entering the aquarium pet trade, and is also used in traditional medicines). A reassessment of the species in 2003, with greater taxonomic understanding, found that no appropriate data on biology and ecology, habitat, abundance or distribution are currently available for this species. Further research is needed. Therefore it was reassessed as Data Deficient. Photo © Shedd Aquarium (photo by Edward G. Lines, Jr.). |