Ocean field note
A pouch of his own
The Seahorse Dad's Surprise
A daddy seahorse carries the eggs in a pouch on his belly and gives birth to the babies himself.
Let's look closer
Why would a father carry the babies instead of the mother?
uring courtship, a mother seahorse transfers her eggs into a special pouch on the father's belly, where he fertilizes them and then keeps them safe, supplying oxygen and nutrients through the pouch's lining as they grow. The father seahorse essentially takes over the whole job of pregnancy from that point on, while the mother is free to rest and prepare more eggs for the next batch. When the babies are finally ready, he pumps and sways his body until tiny baby seahorses squirt out into the open water, fully formed and ready to drift off on their own.
Look for this
Explorer clue
In an aquarium, look for a seahorse curling its tail around a plant stem to stay anchored in place, especially the rounder-bellied males.
Your turn to wonder
Curiosity question
What is one caring job you'd be proud to do for someone smaller than you?
Keep wandering
