What's in a Name, Small Fry

Seahorses are one of very few species where the male 'gives birth'. The female deposits her eggs in a brood pouch located on her mate's belly. He fertilizes them internally and carries them until they hatch, which can be anywhere from 9 to 45 days based on species and water temperature. A single male may carry hundreds of eggs in his pouch. Baby sea horses are called fry (singular and plural). Baby big-belly seahorses, aside from being too small to exhibit their distinct characteristic round bellies, are exact miniature replicas of their parents.The picture shows how small a fry is.

When baby seahorses are first born, the fry will gulp air at the surface to help fill their swim bladder. Their diet is usually live brine shrimp called Artemia. Seahorses live among coral reefs and sea grass beds.