photo

Dancing Seahorse Pairs

Preview Seahorse couples (such as these Hippocampus histrix) greet each other every morning with a unique dance that sometimes involves changing color. The couple promenades and pirouettes together for several minutes before separating for the rest of the day. The
(Herwig Helsen/Guylian Seahorses of the World 2010. Courtesy of Project Seahorse.)

Seahorse couples, such as this pair of thorny seahorses (Hippocampus histrix), greet each other every morning with a unique dance that sometimes involves changing color. The couple promenades and pirouettes together for several minutes before separating for the rest of the day. They greet each other as a way to confirm the other partner is still alive, reinforce their bond and synchronize their reproductive cycles.