Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti): Tiny and nearly invisible, the pygmy seahorse lives exclusively on specific species of gorgonian corals. Its body is covered in tubercles that perfectly mimic the coral’s polyps, while its color matches the host exactly—usually pink, purple, or yellow. Growing no more than an inch long, it sways with the current like a coral branch. It remains attached to the same coral colony for life, feeding on microscopic plankton. Its camouflage is so effective that it was first discovered only when scientists examined collected coral samples. Due to its specialized habitat and cryptic nature, little is known about its behavior. The pygmy seahorse exemplifies extreme co-evolution and the hidden biodiversity of reef ecosystems.
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