Many people who deal with seahorses daily never had got to experience anything like this. It’s impressive that they were capable of getting this on camera.
The miracle of birth is one of nature’s finest wonders. Thus the wonder of childbirth will forever be part of the cycle of survival.
Though we hardly get to see wildlife give birth through our two eyes. Notably, a delivery at sea. Meanwhile, it is ultra rare to witness a male giving birth!
For most people, a sudden question will pop up in their minds; Do males give birth?
Not all males but male seahorses do bear their young.
While male seahorses bearing babies is strange, seeing them give birth is quite another.
Off the Australian state of New South Wales coast, two scientists saw such a phenomenon.
A marine conversation team centred at the University of British Columbia includes Clayton Manning and Meagan Abele.
Scientists discovered what they characterized as a “very, very pregnant” male seahorse while doing a seafloor study of the regional marine life.
They claimed that while he was carried away by the water, its little tail clung tenaciously to the seagrass.
There was a sign about something; From the brood pouch of the seahorse, a little tail deviated. A tiny seahorse emerged from the brood pouch after measuring the adult.
The pair then hovered still while it observed the seahorse give birth.
Given that they were both involved in a project to save seahorses, it must have been a strange but encouraging sight for the academics.
The Sydney seahorse, also known as Hippocampus white, is a species of native seahorse. Its scientific name translates from Greek as “horse-like sea monster.”
The researchers conducted surveys and dives to determine how they might best assist the seahorse population.
The creatures appear to be a never-ending source of interest.
Since the moment the researchers encountered them, seahorses have attracted their attention.
The fish has a horse-like face and swims erect.
Still, much work must be done to learn about these organisms, even though scientists know their fundamental biology.
Seahorses are not the finest swimmers due to their anatomical structure.
Because they can cling to surfaces, they like oceans with seagrass meadows, mangroves, or coral reefs.
Their extraordinary qualities go beyond only their distinct physical look. Seahorses are well recognized for switching roles during reproduction.
The females implant their eggs into the male’s brood pouch via a tube known as an ovipositor.
The eggs are then carried about and nursed by the males. The young of the seahorse is ejected after between two and four weeks.
These two fortunate researchers were able to capture this occurrence on camera.
We hope this is not the final time we will witness them giving birth in the wild.
Industrial victims
The primary danger to seahorses is commercial fishing. As bycatch, seahorses are trapped in enormous nets. They are widely valued as dried souvenirs for travellers.
Asian traditional medicine marketplaces also influence them.
Since seahorses are pretty picky about their habitat, population declines are also a result of environmental changes.
Australia, on the other hand, has cause for optimism regarding seahorse numbers.
The University of British Columbia claims that local seahorse populations flourish mainly due to conservation efforts.
Watch the video below to see a seahorse giving birth in the wild!
