|

How do
seahorses reproduce?
Seahorse reproduction is unusual to say the least. And yes, it's true--the males really become pregnant! The female seahorse produces eggs
and then
passes them to the male, who holds them in a pouch on his belly. Courtship
can last for 12 hours, with the pair performing elaborate dances and
displays. With their tails entwined, the female aligns a long tube
(ovipositor) with her mate’s pouch. Strings of sticky eggs move through the
tube and into the male's pouch. The eggs, now called embryos, will develop
for ten days to six weeks, depending upon the species and water conditions.
Finally, over the course of many hours, the male pumps his tail until the
baby seahorses emerge. |