Project Seahorse: Advancing Marine Conservation

Seahorses & Relatives 

Seahorses are called that because they have a horse-shaped head and live in the sea. All seahorses belong to the genus Hippocampus, from the Greek words for horse (hippos) and sea monster (campus). They are all members of the family Syngnathidae, (sing-NATH-i-day) from the Greek syn, meaning together or fused, and gnathus, meaning jaws. Other fish in the family Syngnathidae include pipefishes, pipehorses, and sea dragons.