And baby makes 80 for surprise seahorse arrival

Jessica Benton
A PARENTAL role reverse has thrilled researchers at Queenscliff’s Marine Discovery Centre.
Although males giving birth is normal among species of seahorse, the arrival of about 80 big-belly seahorses was cause for celebration.
Centre marine education officer Julie Murphy said all Victorian seahorses were now “protected species”, so the mass birth was “pretty special”.
“There are not a lot of them around,” she said.
Staff discovered the newborns during a morning feed session.
“We had a male and a female but we didn’t realise the male was pregnant,” Ms Murphy said.
“It was only this morning (Friday) that we discovered the babies when we were feeding.”
“There are about 80 babies swimming around. They’re each about 10 millimetres long and are a really light brown.
“Seahorses produce so many babies because usually so many of them would not survive in the wild.”
Female seahorses deposit eggs in the pouches of males who then carry the babies until giving birth.
Ms Murphy said staff would release the seahorses into the wild this week.