Northern and Southern Erectus

[Seahorses]

Is there any way to tell which one is which, besides their babies? What two different places are they found?

 

[DanU]

H. erectus are found up and down the entire US East Coast, Gulf of Mexico and into the Caribbean and down to Brazil. There are subtle differences as you go along. If you compare specimens from say Florida to ones found in New Jersey or New York, the difference are more apparent. You will see that the Northern specimens are smaller with a more compact body, larger dorsal fin, shorter snout and have smaller pelagic fry. According to researchers that I have spoken with, DNA testing shows they are one species. Telling the difference without knowing where they originate from would be difficult. The fry would be one way to tell.

Dan

 

[tjdouglas]

I wonder where exactly along the US coast the fry divide into pelagic and benthic forms? There must be some overlap there too? For example, would all of the Erectus seahorse fry north of Georgia be pelagic?

 

[DanU]

Good question. I wonder if anyone actually knows. There appears to be differences though in specimens taken from different areas. A while back some folks who were breeding specimens taken from the Chesapeake Bay area. If memory serves me correctly, they went through an abbreviated pelagic phase. Even in Florida there are differences in those from the east coast, keys and west coast. Subtle, but some differences that aren't so apparent unless you see them side by side.

Dan

 

[tjdouglas]

Thanks Dan for this info...I think this is pretty fascinating stuff!