Researchers from the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) identified a new seahorse species

Researchers from the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) identified a new seahorse species

¨     Researchers from the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) identified a new seahorse species in August 2026.

¨     The new species has been scientifically named Hippocampus amandavincentae.

¨     The species has been named in honour of renowned marine biologist Amanda Vincent.

¨     The discovery separates the thorny seahorse complex from Hippocampus histrix, which had been treated as a single species for nearly 150 years.

¨     Seahorses belong to the genus Hippocampus and the family Syngnathidae.

¨     Taxonomy is the branch of biology concerned with the naming, description, and classification of organisms.

¨     Marine species identification uses evidence such as external morphology, museum specimens, and genetic data.

¨     The specimen of the new species was first collected from fish bycatch at Tuticorin Fisheries Harbour in Tamil Nadu.

¨     Shalu Kannan, a PhD graduate from KUFOS and the lead author of the study, identified the specimen during the research.

¨     The findings were published in Zootaxa, a journal specialising in zoological taxonomy, in August 2026.

¨     The study concluded that the thorny seahorse previously identified as Hippocampus histrix actually represents three distinct species.

¨     The study also confirmed Hippocampus jayakari from the northwestern Indian Ocean as a separate valid species.

¨     Many historical museum specimens and online records from the Indian Ocean had previously been classified as Hippocampus histrix.

¨     The discovery is important for improving the understanding of marine biodiversity and the scientific classification of seahorses.