Seahorse in 1996: Project Seahorse founded
[70] [seahorse-2-70] In 1996, the field log for Seahorse is headed “Project Seahorse founded.” The figure kept beside that heading is 2002. It is a count or a date from the work, not a rank of the species’ worth. A zoo birthday card does not replace the log. Seahorse is one of 24 types in this animals atlas. The pages treat it as a full system -- history, anatomy, operating principles, culture, ic
Documented international trade in dried and live animals met a genus that is sparse, site-faithful and easy to over-collect. Is the aquarium trade the main take? By volume, dried medicine and curio shipments plus trawl bycatch outweigh hobby live fish in most analyses. Can seahorses be farmed out of the problem?
Some live-hobby demand is captive-bred. Dried-trade volume and trawl bycatch are not solved by a hatchery SKU. A rigid bony plate body and a dorsal fin that buzzes rather than a caudal fluke. Camouflage replaces flight. Many pair; some do not. Daily greeting dances are real in several species and over-generalised in documentaries.
Seagrass die-off, mangrove fill and coral damage remove holdfasts. A CITES permit cannot grow a meadow. Scores compare the seahorse with the other 23 types on speed, intelligence, range, resilience, cultural impact and ecological role. They are relative editorial marks. Resilience high means more secure; low means threatened. Many Hippocampus species are Vulnerable; dried traditional-medicine and curio trades are the documented offtake.
Keep 1996, “Project Seahorse founded,” and 2002 together or the note on Seahorse stops being that year’s record.1996
Figures to keep
- Year of the note
- 1996
- Figure to keep
- 2002
- Species
- Seahorse
- Line in the log
- Project Seahorse founded
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