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Seahorse reproduction is unusual. The males become pregnant! The female seahorse produces eggs and then passes them to the male, who holds them in a pouch on his belly. Courtship can last for 12 hours, with the pair performing elaborate dances and displays. With their tails entwined, the female aligns a long tube (ovipositor) with her mate’s pouch. Strings of sticky eggs move through the tube and into the male's pouch. The eggs, when fertilised, are called embryos and will develop for ten days to six weeks, depending upon the species and water conditions. Finally, over the course of many hours, the male pumps his tail until the baby seahorses emerge. Related Topics:
Breeding
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