New Zealand’s Pot-Bellied Seahorse is one of the larger species of seahorse found in the world reaching lengths of up to 30cm. Variable colour but often cream to yellow with brown blotches. Females have a prominant ridged belly, males belly is soft and has an opening to the brood pouch. Both sexes may have skin extensions on the head, probably for camoflage.

Seaweed and sponge gardens, hold on tightly with their prehensile tails. Poor swimmers

Plankton predator.

The unique thing about seahorses is that it is the male seahorse who bear the young. The females brood the eggs and then after a sometimes lengthy courtship she deposits them into the male seahorses pouch. The male then fertilises the eggs and proceeds to incubate them for 26-30 days before giving birth to live young. a male seahorse can give birth to over 700 babies at one time although it is more common for them to have a brood between 200 and 400. After the young seahorses called fry are born their parents give no more parental care and may even eat their own babies! Many seahorse populations throughout the world are now on endangered species lists, some may even be extinct. This is because seahorses are a highly prized food item and used for traditional medicines in many cultures. There has been substantial research into farming the Pot-Bellied Seahorse in NZ. Some success has been made but seahorses are high maintenance, their preference for live food often makes culturing the food for them to eat more time consuming than looking after the seahorses themselves.
Only species of seahorse found in NZ waters, they are also found in Tasmania and Southern Australia.

Collins Guide to the Sea fishes of NZ: Ayling & Cox