Volume 26, Issue 78, July - December, 2025

First record of Hippocampus trimaculatus Leach, 1814 (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) from Sri Lanka —with a note on natural history and trade

Janamina Bandara^1,2,3♦, Sahan Randeniya³

¹Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology, University of Ruhuna, Matara (81000), Sri Lanka
²Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
³Wildlife Conservation Society–Galle, Biodiversity Research & Education Center, Hiyare Reservoir, Galle (80000), Sri Lanka

^♦Corresponding Author
Janamina Bandara, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology, University of Ruhuna, Matara (81000), Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

Here, we report a new distributional record of the Three-Spot Seahorse, Hippocampus trimaculatus, in the Indian Ocean, which represents the first record from Sri Lankan waters, specifically from Madiha on the southern coast of the island (caught ~150–200 km offshore). Examination of four dried specimens (one male and three females), including morphometric and meristic counts, confirms the diagnosis: the presence of a sharp, ‘hook-like’ prominent cheek spine and eye spine; absence of a nose spine; a very low coronet with five short, pointed spines; 11 trunk rings; 39 tail rings (in all undamaged specimens); head length to snout length (HL/SnL) ratio of 2.20 (± 0.02) distinguishes this species from all other congeners recorded in the region. Additionally, an unusual natural history is documented —seahorses dwelling in clumps of drifting marine debris in the open ocean. Additionally, we provide insights into the local illegal trade, along with a discussion of related issues.

Keywords: Seahorses, Sri Lanka, Hippocampus, Indian Ocean, Southern coast, Illegal trade

Species, 2025, 26(78), e49s3225

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v26i78.e49s3225

Published: 01 December 2025