Animal Guide

Pot-Bellied Seahorse

36 destinations · 22 states

Native Range: Southern Australia and New Zealand

The pot-bellied seahorse is one of the larger seahorse species, with a rounded belly that gives it its memorable name. Like other seahorses, it spends much of its time holding onto seagrass, kelp, or other underwater structures with its curled tail rather than swimming continuously. Watch closely and you may see the dorsal fin beating rapidly while the rest of the body stays almost perfectly still. Feeding happens in an instant. A seahorse waits for tiny crustaceans or other small prey to drift within range, then sucks them in through its narrow snout with a surprisingly quick snap. The eyes can move independently, helping the seahorse scan its surroundings while remaining nearly motionless. Reproduction is another reason to watch for a while: the male carries developing young in a specialized brood pouch before releasing tiny, fully formed seahorses. In an aquarium, their slow movements make it easy to miss these small details at first, but once you spot a pot-bellied seahorse gripping a plant with its tail, it becomes hard to stop looking.

Pot-Bellied Seahorse

Where to see Pot-Bellied Seahorse

36 destinations across 22 states

36 destinations

ABQ BioPark Aquarium

Albuquerque, NM

Akron Zoo

Akron, OH

Audubon Aquarium

New Orleans, LA

Austin Aquarium

Austin, TX

Birch Aquarium

La Jolla, CA

Brookfield Zoo

Riverside, IL

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Powell, OH

Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta, GA

Great Lakes Aquarium

Duluth, MN

Greater Cleveland Aquarium

Cleveland, OH

Indianapolis Zoo

Indianapolis, IN

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

Kansas City, MO

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Draper, UT

Mississippi Aquarium

Gulfport, MS

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium

Sarasota, FL

Newport Aquarium

Newport, KY

Niabi Zoo

Coal Valley, IL

Oklahoma Aquarium

Jenks, OK

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

Omaha, NE

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

Pittsburgh, PA

Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach, SC

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Gatlinburg, TN

San Antonio Aquarium

Leon Valley, TX

San Antonio Zoo

San Antonio, TX

SEA LIFE Aquarium

Carlsbad, CA

SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium

Tempe, AZ

SEA LIFE at Mall of America

Bloomington, MN

SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord

Concord, NC

SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium

Kansas City, MO

SEA LIFE New Jersey Aquarium

East Rutherford, NJ

SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium

Orlando, FL

Shedd Aquarium

Chicago, IL

Steinhart Aquarium

San Francisco, CA

The Dallas World Aquarium

Dallas, TX

The Florida Aquarium

Tampa, FL

Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

Toledo, OH

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