Background/Objectives: Commercial demands for seahorses, mainly for medical purposes, are increasing by 20% per year. Seahorses are found worldwide in shallow coastal tropical and temperate seas. The reproductive behaviour of seahorses, found the females to deposit pear-shaped eggs in the male brood pouch where fertilization takes place. The dwarf seahorse, H. zosterae to form monogamous pair every morning until copulation takes place.
Methods/Statistical Analysis: The collection was made from Cuddalore coast on monthly basis over the period of one year (October 2000 to September 2001). The samples after collection were preserved in 5% formalin and later dissected along latero-ventral side near the abdominal region and the gonads were removed carefully. Ovaries were preserved in modified Gilson’s fluid and ova diameter measurements were made from ovaries. For fecundity estimation, only stage V ovary was taken into consideration. Fecundity was estimated by the gravimetric method of various maturity stages.
Findings: The fecundity of the seahorse was calculated in the animals having stage V (mature) ovary only. The number of eggs varied from 850 to 18,950 in the size range 156 - 296 mm (SL). The average fecundity of H. kelloggi observed in the present study was 6638.2 eggs.
Application/Improvements: It is particularly used as ingredients in traditional medicine, particularly in Southeast Asia where Traditional Chinese Medicine. The decline of these species is great concern in the light of global exploitation of seahorses. The fecundity aspect must be established to know the production and survival of the seahorse species and with effective conservation measures can be applied to target organisms. Hence, the present study has been carried out the fecundity of seahorse H. kelloggi.
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