With their subtle presence, fine movements, and graciously curled tails, seahorses do not give the impression of being dangerous predators. Surprisingly enough, they are actually one of the most deadly inhabitants of the marine world.
Are seahorses dangerous? Seahorses are dangerous to their prey and are amongst the most aggressive creatures in oceans. They are not dangerous to humans but eating a seahorse is not recommendable.
They attack their prey fast, quietly, and suddenly. Their slow swimming manner and small size should not be mistaken for a lack of deadliness and aggression when on a hunt for food.
Further in the article, we are going to look in more detail at why seahorses are dangerous to other sea species.
Seahorses are amongst the deadliest predators in the ocean. As hard as it is to believe that these graceful creatures are dangerous, they are lethal for their prey. However, they are not dangerous to humans.
Some Reasons Why Seahorses are Deadly
They Are Very Skillful Hunters:
Seahorses attach themselves to corals or seaweeds with their tail. This gives them good hiding places and opportunities to become unnoticeable to their victims. After that, they wait patiently for food to pass by and quickly and silently attack. Seahorses do not chew their food and do not have teeth – they immediately suck in their prey after catching it.
Also, seahorses do not possess a stomach to process the food gradually after intake. Instead, the nutritional substances go straight into their digestive system. This gives a persistent feeling of hunger and emptiness and an adult seahorse eats up to 50 times a day. They also graze almost all the time.
Seahorses Are Very Fast
The slow and mundane manner seahorses swim should not be mistaken for a lack of speed or vulnerability. On the contrary, seahorses are extremely fast attackers. Slow swimming looks more like aimless floating than real swimming and acts more like camouflage and a tool for fooling their prey.
Once their food approaches, and is about to pass by, seahorses attack abruptly and unexpectedly. The victim does not expect an attack at that particular moment and an escape is pretty much impossible.
Seahorses Are Masters Of Disguise
These fairytale creatures are amongst the most notable masters of disguise. Seahorses can adapt their colors to the environment they are in. They hide even better when anchored to seaweeds and corals making their prey not suspect anything dangerous is close by.
They Are Small:
Their miniature size provides them not only a cute appearance but helps them hide easier and remain unnoticeable.
Their Head Helps Too:
When hunting, seahorses are also assisted by the unusual shape of their head – it helps them move undetected through water and their long snouts further enhance their attacking abilities. The head, the snout, and the flexibility of their body allow them to have an impressively fast attacking technique and maintain a 90% successful predatory kill rate.
Interestingly enough, the snout is shaped to minimize the disturbance of water in front of it, when attacking. Thus, the victim has minimal chances to escape due to the lack of obvious signs of other foreign presence and also because of the speed of the seahorse’s strike.
Are Seahorses Dangerous To Humans?
No, seahorses are not dangerous to humans. They are usually kept in aquariums or some kind of domesticated captivity such as exhibitions or aqua entertainment centers.
Powdered seahorses are a medicinal ingredient commonly used in China to treat asthma and sexual dysfunction. However, large quantities to ingest can be dangerous and lead to serious health issues. Powdered seahorse is known for causing kidney failure in large quantities.
Other than this, seahorses are not a delicacy in Western culture and are not meant for eating. They usually serve decorative purposes in aquariums and are a nice additional touch for tanks of marine hobbyists.
However, seahorses are present in the cuisines of China, Japan, and Asia. This demand has put them at high risk and because of this seahorses are endangered.
Can Seahorses Hurt You?
No, they cannot. Seahorses are too small and too fragile compared to humans and therefore harmless to people.
Can You Touch A Seahorse?
No, you absolutely cannot. Seahorses are endangered species, therefore they are protected, and chasing, disturbing, or touching them is strictly prohibited. It is actually an offense to do any of these. If you encounter one at sea, it is best to admire it from a safe distance without any physical contact.
Conclusion
Seahorses are one of the most dangerous predators at sea. They attack fast, abruptly, and unexpectedly. Their flexible heads and snouts allow them to move toward the victim without being noticed.
The small size, fragile body, slow swimming, and graceful movements should not be a reason to underestimate seahorses. They are very skillful and precise hunters that attack suddenly and their prey has no chance to escape.
Generally, seahorses are not suitable for eating. In Chinese medicinal practice, a powdered seahorse is used for treating asthma and sexual dysfunctions. Large quantities of the powder can lead to serious health damage such as kidney failure.
Seahorses are not dangerous to humans and cannot harm people. They are endangered species and are under special protection. That is why if you encounter one at sea, it is strictly forbidden to chase it, touch or disturb it in any way. One can only admire it from a distance.