REGISTROS DE CAVALOS-MARINHOS (SYNGNATHIDAE: HIPPOCAMPUS) AO LONGO DA COSTA BRASILEIRA

Abstract

RECORD OF SEAHORSES (SYNGNATHIDAE: HIPPOCAMPUS) ALONG THE BRAZILIAN COAST. Seahorses are bony fishes belonging to the Syngnathidae family and genus Hippocampus. In Brazil, there are reports of two species of seahorses: Hippocampus reidi the longsnout seahorse and H.erectus, the lined seahorse. Both species were included in the IUCN Red List (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as “data deficient” and “vulnerable”, respectively. To preserve it is necessary to know the species, its habits as well as its occurrence and distribution. According to a preliminary survey, the occurrence of the genus Hippocampus extends from north to south along the Brazilian coast, being suggested for the two species a continuous distribution along our coastline.

Keywords: Hippocampus reidi, Hippocampus erectus, mangrove, estuary, sea.