User:Ird003/Pacific seahorse

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Description: things to add

One of the largest species of seahorses.

Distribution and Habitat: things to add

Only Hippocampus species distributed on the eastern Pacific Ocean. There has been a recent new sighting of an H. ingens at Guadalupe Island, Mexico. This could indicate one of two things: a long-distance dispersal from the mainland or increased habitat suitability. This new finding allows researchers to explore more of the biogeography regarding these species. Finding evidence that H. ingens are being distributed more towards the eastern Pacific Ocean would be beneficial for the conservation of the species since being located in this region helps the species ecologically, economically, and culturally. (Girard 1858)

Reproduction and Development

- don't need to add much text wise; maybe add a picture of male vs. female

Conservation status: things to add
This action was taken by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and as a result, many countries directly involved in the illegal trade of these species, such as Peru, made more formal bans on it through their legislature. Nonetheless, illegal activity involving the species still continued and confiscation rates were around the same as before the ban was put into place.

Ideas:

The H. ingens population is estimated to decline 30% between 2007 and 2017 due to fisheries pressure and illegal trade. Highly sought after due to its large size. Identified as one of the six seahorse species most impacted by international trade and it is largely traded illegally. Targeted by divers, but by catch is most common.