Record of Hippocampus ingens (Syngnathidae) larvae in the province of Santa Elena – Ecuador
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25268/bimc.invemar.2026.55.2.1393Keywords:
caballito de mar, Ecuador, biodiversidad marina, conservación, larvaAbstract
The findings of Hippocampus ingens in Ecuadorian waters are reported, obtained from ichthyoplankton samples in the province of Santa Elena. The first and second reports of this species were made in October 2013 and November 2014. The species was subsequently included in the Ecuadorian fish larvae identification catalog in 2018; a third organism was recorded in July 2025. The presence of this species in the same area could suggest a potential
nursery area. This finding contributes to the knowledge of larval biodiversity in the region and highlights the need for further studies on its early ecology and conservation, since it is considered Vulnerable by the IUCN and listed in CITES.
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