The Secrets of Seahorse Birth

Seahorses are among the most fascinating creatures in the ocean due to their unique reproductive system.

Surprisingly, it’s not the female, but the male seahorse which becomes pregnant.

After an intricate courtship dance, the female deposits about 12 to 1000 eggs into the male's brood pouch - a specialized organ that fertilizes the eggs and provides nutrients & oxygen.

After a gestation period of around 14-28 days (depending on the species), the male undergoes muscular contractions to expel the young ones, known as 'frys', into the water.

This 'birth' can last minutes to several hours and the babies that emerge are miniature versions of their parents.

Each 'fry' is just 1cm long and they’re immediately independent, receiving no further care from their parents.

This exceptional process makes the seahorse one of just a few animals in the world where the males carry the term..