Longtail Seamoth
Pegasus volitans
There are six species of seamoth; the most recent species identified in 2016. Seamoths are bony fish found living on the ocean floor in the Indo West ocean. They are very flat fish whose pectoral fins have expanded and look like wings when they are extended. Very little is known about these animals, although many signs indicate that they are overfished and in danger of becoming vulnerable.
SPECIES IN DETAIL
Longtail Seamoth
Pegasus volitans
CONSERVATION STATUS: Data deficient
CLIMATE CHANGE: Uncertain
Geographic Distribution
Seamoths may be found in the Indo West and Central Pacific oceans.
Habitat
Longtail seamoths can be found in marine and brackish waters of typically 9 - 27 m (29.5-88ft) depths. They are benthic, which means they are found on the bottom of the ocean floor in muddy or sandy bottoms.
Physical Characteristics
Related to sea horses, seamoths are highly distinctive looking fish. Their entire body and tail are encased in bony plates, with a long beak-like mouth and large wing-like pectoral fins. This bony body armor is made up of calcified plates. Seamoths have a very flat body with a depth under 0.4 inches (1 centimeter).
Size
Up to 20 centimeters long (7.9 inches), up to 0.12 kilograms (0.26 pounds).
Diet
Seamoths feed in sand beds on benthic macrofauna such as crustaceans and amphipods.
Reproduction
Longtail seamoths spawn (release eggs and sperm) into the water column. They appear to have a monogamous mating structure, often staying with the same mate through several reproductive cycles. Because population density is low, monogamous pairing helps increase chances for reproduction.
Behavior
Seamoth sheds their skin every several days. Some species may shed their entire skin, while other species shed only part of their skin. Seamoths are very slow moving.
Adaptation
They do not swim like fish in the open water; they “walk” with their pelvic fins across the substrate. Seamoths lack swim bladders, which allows them to stay close to the seafloor.
Longevity
Their longevity is unknown.
Conservation
While there are no current conservation plans for seamoths, they have been caught as bycatch in trawl nets.
Special Notes
Their family name Pegasidae is derived from Pegasus, the winged horse from Greek mythology.
SPECIES IN DETAIL | Print full entry
Longtail Seamoth
Pegasus volitans
CONSERVATION STATUS: Data deficient
CLIMATE CHANGE: Uncertain
Seamoths may be found in the Indo West and Central Pacific oceans.
Longtail seamoths can be found in marine and brackish waters of typically 9 - 27 m (29.5-88ft) depths. They are benthic, which means they are found on the bottom of the ocean floor in muddy or sandy bottoms.
Related to sea horses, seamoths are highly distinctive looking fish. Their entire body and tail are encased in bony plates, with a long beak-like mouth and large wing-like pectoral fins. This bony body armor is made up of calcified plates. Seamoths have a very flat body with a depth under 0.4 inches (1 centimeter).
Up to 20 centimeters long (7.9 inches), up to 0.12 kilograms (0.26 pounds).
Seamoths feed in sand beds on benthic macrofauna such as crustaceans and amphipods.
Longtail seamoths spawn (release eggs and sperm) into the water column. They appear to have a monogamous mating structure, often staying with the same mate through several reproductive cycles. Because population density is low, monogamous pairing helps increase chances for reproduction.
Seamoth sheds their skin every several days. Some species may shed their entire skin, while other species shed only part of their skin. Seamoths are very slow moving.
They do not swim like fish in the open water; they “walk” with their pelvic fins across the substrate. Seamoths lack swim bladders, which allows them to stay close to the seafloor.
Their longevity is unknown.
While there are no current conservation plans for seamoths, they have been caught as bycatch in trawl nets.
Their family name Pegasidae is derived from Pegasus, the winged horse from Greek mythology.