Seahorses exhibits at Underwater World Singapore

This morning, Underwater World Singapore launched its new seahorse exhibits. This exhibit is jointly presented by the Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI) of the National University of Singapore.

Exhibits of juvenile seahorses and live brine shrimp.

The exhibits have been launched this month to coincide with the new listing of seahorses under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), of which Singapore is a signatory. Consequently, new regulations will be put in place to control the export and import of all species of seahorses. This new listing under Appendix II will help regulate their trade so that it’s not detrimental to seahorse populations in each of the member countries.

From left: Dr Elizabeth Taylor, TMSI; Bruce Mackay, UWS; Dr Juan Walford, TMSI; Dr Sivaloganathan, TMSI.

The exhibit displays two species of seahorses known to be found in Singapore. They are the Tiger Tail Seahorse Hippocampus comes and Hedgehog Seahorse Hippocampus spinosissimus. That another species, Hippocampus kuda, is present in Singapore waters has yet to be verified by the scientific community. Seahorse juveniles are also being showcased. Catch them during feeding time to watch them feed on live brine shrimp.

Also on display are interactive educational boards where discs can be flipped to reveal various interesting facts such as, “how are seahorses in danger”, and “where in Singapore are seahorses found.”

Interactive information boards.