At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The Knysna seahorse is one of the most range-restricted seahorses in the world, found in just a few South African estuaries. It is assessed as Endangered.
It clings to estuary plants with its prehensile tail.
Range & habitat
A few estuaries on the south coast of South Africa.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Estuary degradation and pollution
- Development and disturbance
- A tiny range
Why it matters
A seahorse confined to a handful of estuaries, the Knysna seahorse is a flagship for protecting fragile estuarine habitats.
Sources
Sources for Knysna Seahorse
- IUCN Red List — look up Knysna Seahorse (authoritative status)
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Knysna seahorse so vulnerable?
It lives in only a few South African estuaries, so pollution, development, or degradation of even one estuary can threaten a large share of the entire species.
Why is the Knysna seahorse Endangered?
Published assessments cite estuary degradation and pollution, development and disturbance, and its very small range. See the IUCN Red List.
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