Bargibant’s Pygmy Seahorse

Hippocampus bargibanti.

Bargibant’s pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) is found in the Indo-Pacific, with a fairly specific habitat range.

Geographic range

• Indonesia (especially Raja Ampat, Sulawesi, Bali)

• Philippines

• Papua New Guinea

• Solomon Islands

• New Caledonia

• Parts of Malaysia

Habitat

• Lives exclusively on gorgonian sea fans, most commonly Muricella species

• Depth range: roughly 16–40 meters (about 50–130 feet)

• Rarely seen off its host coral—its camouflage and survival depend on it

Important note
They are not widespread wanderers. Each seahorse pair typically spends its entire life on one single sea fan, perfectly color-matched to that coral.