Bargibant's pygmy seahorse
Hippocampus bargibanti
Sighting evidence at Molas Beach
Photo: Julian Hsu · CC BY-NC
Bargibant's pygmy seahorse — the first pygmy species described, in 1969, from New Caledonia — is under 2 cm long and camouflaged with tubercles that precisely match the polyp colour and texture of its host gorgonian, either Muricella plectana (red/orange) or Muricella paraplectana (yellow/purple). Individuals spend their entire lives on a single sea fan and are only found because guides train eyes for the gorgonian host rather than the animal itself. Molas Beach hosts multiple fans with resident pairs.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Bargibant's pygmy seahorse is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.