How Do Seahorses Reproduce? A Detailed Explanation of Breeding Methods and Key Technical Points
The seahorse is the only animal on Earth in which the male gives birth to the offspring. The male seahorse has a brood pouch on its belly, directly at the front, or on its side. During mating, the female seahorse releases her eggs into the brood pouch, and the male is responsible for fertilizing these eggs. The male seahorse will keep the fertilized eggs in the brood pouch until they have developed into form, and only then does it release them into the seawater.
1. Characteristics of Seahorse Reproduction
Seahorses are not hermaphroditic; with seahorses it is only the male that incubates. Every year from May to August is the breeding season for seahorses. During this period, the mother seahorse lays her eggs in the brood pouch on the father seahorse's belly. After 50-60 days, the young fish will emerge from the father seahorse's brood pouch, so it is said that the father seahorse is responsible for raising the young. Although the father does not actually give birth to the young, the incubation still needs to be completed by the father. The father's brood pouch only serves as an incubator; the eggs still come from the mother. August to September is the peak production period, and fishermen often use stake nets to catch them at this time.
2. Main Value of Seahorses
The seahorse is a precious traditional Chinese medicine with relatively high economic value. It has medicinal functions such as strengthening the body, tonifying the kidney and enhancing yang, relaxing the muscles and stimulating the circulation of blood, reducing inflammation and relieving pain, calming and soothing the nerves, and relieving cough and asthma. It is especially effective for treating diseases of the nervous system. Since ancient times it has been highly favored by people, and men are especially fond of it. In addition to being mainly used to make various synthetic medicines, seahorses can also be taken directly to strengthen the body and treat illnesses.