Stunning Video On The Camouflage Of Pygmy Seahorses

by | Oct 21, 2014 | Conservation | 0 comments


So, in the spirit of age old “chicken before the egg” inquiry, marine biologists over at the Steinhart Aquarium decided to explore the camouflage tactics of the adorable, wee pygmy seahorse. So here’s the deal – if a pygmy seahorse can’t blend perfectly into its environment, they’d surely die. They’d be too easy for predators to spot and snatch up. These little guys spend their days lounging around on sea fans. There’s yellow pygmies and there’s purple pygmies. The question? Do they change color to match each specific habitat or are they simply born this way? To find out, the biologists took itty-bitty baby yellow seahorses, which were a dull-brownish hue, and plopped them into tanks with purple sea fans. The result? They turned purple. So there you have it!

  • Caitlin Nichole

    I'm a New York Reef Enthusiast and Fish Nerd, amateur photographer, dog lover, beer brewer/drinker, cocktail mixer, semi-seasoned chef, Prosecco Indulging, lightly foul-mouthed, slightly antagonistic, sorta-artistic, wordy bookworm of a girl. Dog mommy of three, an Abyssinian dubbed "Mau", plus one Dwarf Cuttlefish and a few Clarions. I have a tattoo of an Octopus with flowers on my rear. I ride my bike to the beach and sip bourbon with a good (reef) book while watching the waves. I like to think I'm witty and charming - but I'll let you decide.

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