Pygmy seahorses are not your average seahorse. As their name suggests, the pygmy varieties are the smallest seahorses in the world. Even the largest individuals are less than three centimeters in length.
Pygmies are so elusive that they were only discovered in 1969. This discovery was purely by accident – a scientist collecting gorgonians for a museum happened to see them in the specimen he was preparing. Pygmies are still largely unstudied and new species are being discovered to this day.
Pontoh’s pygmy seahorse
Pygmy seahorses are only found in the Indo-Pacific region, primarily in Southeast Asia. Here in Tulamben, Bali, scuba divers can spot two different species: Bargibant’s, Denise’s, and Pontoh’s pygmy seahorses.
Read on to learn about these remarkable marine animals and where to find them while diving in Tulamben.
Where can you see pygmy seahorses in Tulamben?
In Tulamben, pygmy seahorses can be found living on gorgonian sea fans at the Seraya Secrets, Emerald, USAT Liberty Wreck, and Batu Kelebit dive sites. While the Bargibant’s variety lives exclusively on gorgonians of the genus muricella, Denise’s and Pontoh’s pygmy seahorses can be found on a wider range of sea fans.
Bargibant’s pygmy seahorse
The miniature animals wrap their monkey-like tails around their resident sea fan’s branches to avoid being carried away. While some gorgonians may be inhabited by multiple individuals, divers must look very closely or they will surely miss these tiny creatures.
What makes pygmy seahorses unique?
Along with their small size, pygmy seahorses are masters of disguise. These incredible marine animals use their camouflage abilities to mimic the colors and textures of their host gorgonian. Like their habitats, pygmy seahorses can be shades of pink, orange, yellow, and white. Their bodies are covered in round nodules called “tubercules” which look nearly identical to the closed polyps on their sea fan home.
One of the most noticeable differences between Tulamben’s species of pygmy seahorses is that the Bargibant’s tubercules are most pronounced. Denise’s can be distinguished from Bargibant’s by their smoother appearance, slimmer body shape, and longer snout. Pontoh’s look less like the other two species and can be distinguished by the red filaments growing from their back and head. Of the three species, Bargibant’s are the most common in the Tulamben area.
Pygmy seahorses’ uncanny ability to blend in with the gorgonian’s appearance makes them nearly invisible to the naked eye. Even the most experienced divers can have trouble spotting them, which is just one reason why it’s beneficial to dive Tulamben with a local guide.
Pontoh’s seahorse
When looking for pygmy seahorses, divers must maintain proper buoyancy and be careful not to touch their gorgonian host. Because pygmies don’t have eyelids, they are very sensitive to bright lights. Divers should avoid using direct flashes and torches when taking underwater photos or observing these fragile species.
Many divers are surprised to discover that pygmy seahorses are in fact a type of fish. Like other fish, seahorses have gills for breathing. Pygmies are unique in that they only have a single gill opening at the backs of their heads. Seahorses are one of the most recognizable fish due to their unique body shape and horse-like snouts. Though pygmy seahorses have short, stubby snouts compared to their larger cousins it still performs the necessary function of sucking in food like a vacuum.
Denise’s pygmy seahorse
There’s one more trait that differentiates seahorses from other fish and nearly every species in the animal kingdom. Seahorses and their close relatives (pipefish and sea dragons) are the only animals where the male gets pregnant and gives birth. The pygmy seahorses’ breeding ritual consists of the female placing her eggs inside a brood pouch located in the male’s trunk. He then carries the developing offspring in his specialized pouch for the entire gestation period.
Go diving in Tulamben
Pygmy seahorses are just one of the incredible marine animals that you can see when scuba diving in Tulamben. The dive sites here are an excellent place to spot rare and elusive species.
If you’re interested in diving during your visit to Bali, please send us a message to book your dive in Tulamben. Our top-rated dive center is located in the center of Tulamben and our local guides are experts at spotting marine life in the area. We even offer underwater photography dives for those wanting to capture photos of pygmy seahorses and other macro life.
Select an option below to learn more about our most popular scuba diving trips and courses:
Comments are closed.