The seahorse father does not eat until several hours after he has given birth. However, if the babies are still hanging around him after that, they may become a tasty meal.
Of the hundreds of babies that the male gives birth to, only one or two will survive to become adults and have babies of their own. Hello, curious kids! Ask an adult to send your question to us.
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Send as many questions as you like! Depending on the species, seahorses can deliver from five to more than 1, babies at a time. Unfortunately, only about five out of every thousand survive to adulthood.
The babies are so tiny that they can't eat the same plankton food as their parents, so their choices are limited. Also, they tend to get carried away by ocean currents before they can latch onto rocks or other secure objects with their tails, becoming part of the zooplankton other animals eat.
The fact that so few survive might be the reason seahorses share the baby duties more than other creatures. By using the site, you agree to the uses of cookies and other technology as outlined in our Policy, and to our Terms of Use. How It Works Although the male carries the eggs, he doesn't make them. All rights reserved. Male Contractions The male seahorse has a pouch on its stomach in which to carry babies—as many as 2, at a time.
Cutting the Ties While seahorse dads go the extra mile to give birth, the parents do not provide their tiny offspring with any care or protection after they are born. Breeding Difficulties Although seahorses are the only fish that experience true male pregnancy, the males of two close relatives, sea dragons and pipefish, carry eggs attached to an area beneath their tails.
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