The Evolution of Seahorse Morphology

Seahorses of the genus Hippocampus are ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) belonging to the order Syngnathiformes. They have evolved a body plan strikingly different from the familiar silhouette of most fishes. Seahorses move through the water in an almost upright posture, with the head bent ventrally and the mouth extended into a long, tubular snout. Their bodies are encased in rings of bony plates, the pelvic and caudal fins have been lost, and the tail has become a prehensile organ capable of grasping seagrasses and other objects.

Phylogenetic tree of Syngnathiformes（Image source：Stiller J et al. (2022)， CC BY 4.0 ）

Syngnathiformes is nested within the enormous percomorph radiation (Percomorpha). Living syngnathiforms include several major groups, such as Syngnathoidei, Callionymoidei, Mulloidei, and Dactylopteroidei.

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