Seahorse On Your Menu

You can purchase seahorses, also known as Hippocampus in the dried form at most herbal and medicinal shops (I know this is just so not environmentally friendly at all but people still believe in consuming these rare foods) in Malaysia. The seahorse is named as such due to its equine-like resemblance to the horse. Seahorses feed on planktons, small shrimps and fish. The seahorse comes from a family of thirty two species which also includes seadragons (see my last two photographs) and pipefish and they are found in shallow tropical waters amongst coral reefs and sea grass beds. Their sizes range from an inch to a foot long. Do they swim? Yes by bobbing upright in the waters unlike their fish relatives. Seahorses aren't good swimmers. They use the dorsal fins to propel and the pectoral fins (behind the eyes) are used for steering.
Before I continue, check out a pregnant seahorse on the left. Scary-looking belly there ;)

Want an interesting lowdown on seahorses? From Wikipedia - According to co-founder of Project Seahorse, Amanda J. Vincent, mates can blush a shade of creamy yellow when meeting each other in the morning. Does that mean they are shy meeting each other in the mornings? I thought they would have turned pink instead of creamy yellow..hhahha.

A young man was prepping some seahorses for a customer order. The seahorses are cut into small pieces and packed into small plastic bags and sealed. How does one consume them? Well, drop them into your soups and drink up to good health! Apparently, they help to remove toxin and impurities from one's body. This may be on someone's menu but will never feature on mine...as I just enjoy watching them bobbing in the waters and not in some hot soup!