Author: Lourie & Kuiter, 2008
FBname: Pontoh's pygmy seahorse
Comments: <i>Hippocampus pontohi</i> has been observed on the coralline algae <i>Halimeda</i>, as well as on the hydroid <i>Aglaephenia cupressina</i> (Müller and Severns, pers. comm.). Severns noted it particularly in areas where <i>Halimeda</i> is growing on reef walls. It has been recorded at a number of areas in Indonesia (Bunaken, Cape Sri, Sorong, Wakatobi, Lembeh Straits), at depths of between 11-25 m particularly on vertical walls or in rock fissures on current-swept walls where it will tend to occur on the side of the fissure that faces away from the current, but in all cases where there is some upward current (Müller, pers. comm.) and has been seen swimming over a fungiid coral (Hardt, pers. comm.).  <i>Hippocampus pontohi</i> is commonly found in pairs and, like <i>H. denise</i>, is relatively active in the morning and late afternoon when it is not in direct sunlight (Müller, pers. comm.). Two of the specimens examined were pregnant and each contained approximately 11 embryos (Ref. 79848).