Yes, seahorses can have as many as 3 main different fins including: pectoral fin, anal fin and dorsal fin. They do not have any caudal or pelvic fins. These tiny fins originate behind the gill opening and in the middle of their backs.
The primary purpose of fins is to facilitate the seahorse’ movement. Besides this, they also come with some interesting facts and features. Let’s answer some of the most frequently asked questions related to seahorse fins for you.
Do Seahorses Have Fins? Let’s Know Its Significance
Seahorses have millions of years of history. They come with very interesting body structures. Usually, we don’t know much about this creature. Let’s discover of all seahorses have fins.
Like cetaceans and fishes under Osteichthyes class, one of the special organs of seahorses are their fins. You will find 47 different species of seahorses and they all have fins with distinctive features and function.
Without fins, seahorses can’t survive, and their daily life activity would be incomplete. When it comes to navigating the ocean waters, they play an indispensable role.
Seahorse fins are also essential because these tiny organs help them to catch prey and escape from predators. Moreover, seahorse’s fins are on top of the talk due to their unique appearance.
How Many Fins Do Seahorses Have? Where Is the Fin On A Seahorse?
Firstly, I was also curious to know how many fins seahorses typically have. Let’s answer the question below.
Usually, fins referred to as a flattened appendage on different parts of the body of many aquatic vertebrates, including seahorses.
Earlier I mentioned seahorses equipped with 3 main fins. You will notice each of the fins in 3 different areas –
- One under the belly
- One at the base of the tail and
- One behind each cheek.
Note: Seahorses have no tail fins.
What do seahorses use fins for?
When it comes to guiding or propelling the body, fins play a significant role. Different fins have different functions. Seahorses have few fins compared to most teleost. Let’s know What do seahorses use fins for.
Seahorses Fins and Their Functions
1. Pectoral Fin
Pectoral fins are a pair of organs located on a seahorse’s body. You will find these fins on each side of their body (either side of the head behind their eyes).
All seahorses come with these fins right behind the gill opening and dorsal fins.
Function
Another name of pectoral fins is arm fins. You may call it leg fins. Pectoral fins are originated to help seahorse to move side-by-side. Generally, they help seahorses to swim, turn and balance.
2. Dorsal Fin
A dorsal fin is a kind of organ that is found in some marine mammals and freshwater vertebrates, for example, dolphins, whales, porpoises, and seahorses. The dorsal fin is located on the back of a seahorse’s body.
Note: Dorsal fin is made of fibrous and dense connective tissue, without cartilage or bones. The size and shapes of dorsal fins vary between ecotypes.
Function
The main function of seahorse’s dorsal fins is to propel their body slowly forward. It increases the lateral surface of seahorse’s body during swimming.
Dorsal fins also help them to get stability in water (Through stops and turns).
Note: Predominantly, dorsal fins are responsible for propulsion while pectoral fins supply a small amount of power (Blake 1976, 1980, Consi et al. 2001).
3. Anal Fins
A fin located on the lower side of a seahorse behind the anus is called anal fins. It is also known as cloacal fins. Anal fins are located at the body of a seahorse’s abdomen.
Function
Anal fins support the dorsal fins and stabilize seahorses during swimming. Also, it can control the rolling motion. According to the research, in male seahorses, it helps in the reproductive system (Source).
Why Are Seahorses’ Fins Different Based on Gender?
Seahorses have different types of fins (earlier I discussed about them) based on sex.
The main reasons behind this difference are their genetic characteristics. The body structure and function of male and female seahorses are not same, that’s why if I tell you that seahorses’ fins different, then it’s a normal case.
More specifically to say, you will find a visual difference between the anal fins of male and female seahorses (due to the sexual dimorphism).
- The presence of brood pouch makes anal fins of male seahorse different from the female. In female seahorses, you will not find brood pouches (because they don’t get pregnant) that makes their fins slightly larger.
- The anal fins of male seahorses located on the higher up on the abdomen/belly (allowing the existence of the brood pouch)
- On the other hand, the anal fins of female seahorses located on the lower abdomen (closer to the tail). ~(Source)
How Do Seahorse Fins Look Like?
- Dorsal fins: The Dorsal fins of seahorses look like flat thin part on the back.
- The pectoral fins of seahorses look like ears. These fins also give seahorse a horse-like look.
- Anal fins: The Anal fins of seahorses look like tiny spike.
What Helps a Seahorse Swim?
The dorsal fins and pectoral fins help seahorse to swim. These fins beat approximately 30 to 70 times per second and allow them to swim.
According to the external anatomy of seahorses, smaller fins (found left and right side of their head) and longer fins (found on their back) help seahorses to swim.
While swimming, their vertical position helps them to propel themselves.
The slowest swimmer around the world is known as the dwarf seahorse (H. zosterae). They swim 1.5 m per hour (source).
Do Seahorses Have Flippers?
Another name for flippers is pectoral fins. In that sense, we found flippers or pectoral fins in seahorses. Flippers have skeletal structures which are composed of cartilage. Seahorses use them to keep their balance.
Do Seahorses Have Nostrils?
Like many fish species, seahorse have nostrils. The presence of nostrils helps seahorses to explore the food around them.
Once they find food around them, they suck it up like a vacuum cleaner through their long snouts.
Note: The hole of the nose is referred to as nostrils. You will find nostrils inside the snouts of seahorse.
Conclusion
Seahorses refer to a bony fish in the phylum Chordata. Seahorses under this class, do not have any caudal fins and pelvic fins. However, besides these, they have 3 primary fins which are discussed broadly above. These are highly responsible for Steering, swimming, balancing these creatures of the mysterious ocean.
