Hippocampus kelloggi

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	SYNGNATHIFORMES	SYNGNATHIDAE

Scientific Name:

Hippocampus kelloggi

Species Authority:

Jordan & Snyder, 1902

Common Name/s:

English

–

Great Seahorse, Kellogg's Seahorse, Offshore Seahorse

Taxonomic Notes:

Large seahorses found in the Red Sea have been put under the name H. suezensis. Although this name is potentially valid, there are insufficient data to be confident that this is a separate species from kelloggi (Lourie et al. 1999).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Data Deficient ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2002
Assessor/s:	Project Seahorse
Reviewer/s:	Lafrance, P., Lourie, S., Marsden, D. & Vincent, A.C.J. (Syngnathid Red List Authority)
Justification: Data on this species are extremely limited. We know of no information on declines in numbers for the species or for any subpopulations. The species is targeted by compressor divers, but is rarely found (Lourie unpubl. data, Pajaro unpubl. data). It is also caught in trawls, but is again quite rare (Pajaro unpubl. data.). Hipocampus kelloggi is heavily traded for traditional medicines and is also sold for aquaria and souvenirs. Trade in H. kellogi has been documented in Malaysia, India, Viet Nam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, China, and Singapore (Lourie unpubl. data, Pajaro unpubl. data, Parry unpubl. data). The demand for this species is high due to its large size, smooth texture, and pale complexion when dried (Lourie unpubl. data, Pajaro unpubl. data), all desirable qualities for traditional medicine purposes. However, the volume of this trade, and the proportion of the population that it represents, is unknown at this point. Due to the wide area of occurrence of the species, we cannot yet infer a high level of threat to H. kelloggi.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	H. kelloggi has a relatively wide range. It has been recorded from Zanzibar in Tanzania, Pakistan, India, and southeast Asia, and north to China and Japan. Specimens from Australia have been trawled from depths of 18–156 m, however, further research is required to determine whether these are H. kelloggi or a separate species (Lourie et al. 1999).
Countries:	Native: China; India; Indonesia; Japan; Pakistan; Philippines; Taiwan, Province of China; Tanzania, United Republic of; Viet Nam Presence uncertain: Australia (Lord Howe I., New South Wales, Queensland)
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Indian Ocean – western; Indian Ocean – eastern; Pacific – northwest; Pacific – western central Presence uncertain: Pacific – southwest

Population [top]

Population Trend:	Unknown

Population Trend:

Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species may be particularly susceptible to declines. All seahorse species have vital parental care, and many species studied to date have high site fidelity (Parante et al. 2002, Vincent et al. in review), highly structured social behaviour (Vincent and Sadler 1995), and relatively sparse distributions (Lourie et al. 1999). The importance of life history parameters in determining response to exploitation has been demonstrated for a number of species (Jennings et al. 1998).
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

This species may be particularly susceptible to declines. All seahorse species have vital parental care, and many species studied to date have high site fidelity (Parante et al. 2002, Vincent et al. in review), highly structured social behaviour (Vincent and Sadler 1995), and relatively sparse distributions (Lourie et al. 1999). The importance of life history parameters in determining response to exploitation has been demonstrated for a number of species (Jennings et al. 1998).

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Hipocampus kelloggi is heavily traded for traditional medicines, and also sold for aquaria and souvenirs, but the volume of this trade, and the proportion of the population that it represents, is unknown at this point.

Major Threat(s):

Hipocampus kelloggi is heavily traded for traditional medicines, and also sold for aquaria and souvenirs, but the volume of this trade, and the proportion of the population that it represents, is unknown at this point.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	H. kelloggi is listed in the 1994 Viet Nam Red Data Book, although the accompanying image is of H. trimaculatus (Lourie et al. 1999). Australian populations have been protected under the Australian Wildlife Protection Act since 1998. The species is also listed under wildlife protection laws in the People's Republic of China (Lourie et al. 1999). It is listed on CITES Appendix II.

Conservation Actions:

H. kelloggi is listed in the 1994 Viet Nam Red Data Book, although the accompanying image is of H. trimaculatus (Lourie et al. 1999). Australian populations have been protected under the Australian Wildlife Protection Act since 1998. The species is also listed under wildlife protection laws in the People's Republic of China (Lourie et al. 1999). It is listed on CITES Appendix II.

Citation:	Project Seahorse 2002. Hippocampus kelloggi. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 February 2012.
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