Hippocampus patagonicus Piacentino & Luzzatto, 2004

Silveira, Rosana Beatriz, Siccha-Ramirez, Raquel, Silva, José Rodrigo Santos & Oliveira, Claudio, 2014, Morphological and molecular evidence for the occurrence of three Hippocampus species (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) in Brazil, Zootaxa 3861 (4), pp. 317-332 : 323

Hippocampus patagonicus Piacentino & Luzzatto, 2004

Hippocampus patagonicus Piacentino e Luzzatto, 2004 : 340 (orig. descr.; Negro River, San Antonio Oeste Bay, Argentina; holotype MACN 8806).

Diagnosis. (Proportions and meristic data of 59 specimens, 32–153 mm in height). Rings 11 + 34–37. Dorsal-fin rays 16–19 on 2 + 1 rings; pectoral-fin rays 13–15; anal-fin rays 4.

HL/SnL 2.85–3.9. Coronet little developed, CI 1–2. Spines small to medium, rounded. Sphenotic bone with one strong spine on each side of head; frontal with one simple spine over each eye. Spines on the body and tail distributed regularly on the rings or absent; dermal appendages on body and tail spines may be present in both juveniles and adults.

Coloration. Body color varies: brown, beige, yellow and white; pattern of dark diagonal streaks on the side of the head bordered by intense pigmentation formed by tiny white dots. Tiny black dots and small white dots constituting irregular-shaped spots on body and tail. Dorsal fin with diffuse pigmentation and dark elongated spot on first rays, edges of fin without pigmentation in some fish ( Figure 2 E).

Habitat. Shallow waters up to 22 m in depth. Found on marine algae, principally on floating Sargassum sp., sponges and artificial substrates.

Distribution. Americas, Western Atlantic: Argentina and Brazil ( Piacentino & Luzzatto, 2004; Boehm et al., 2013; González et al. 2014; present study).

Figures

FIGURE 2. A. Hippocampus erectus; B – C. Hippocampus reidi; D. Hippocampus patagonicus.