Our intrepid reporter finds the first biting seahorse
Report by Jenny Stock
A new variation of seahorse has been discovered on a night dive in Papua New Guinea. A close genetic match to the thorny seahorse Hippocampus histrix, this new genus appears to be an aggressive relative, perhaps with DNA links to tyrannosaurids.
Its jaw is significantly wider than the Thorny and a horizontal opening reveals sixty tiny, serrated teeth. These gnashers are thought to replenish when ripped out, akin to sharks and crocodiles. Similarly the animal demonstrates cannibalistic tendencies.
Only one specimen of the mutation has been chanced upon so far. British photographer, April Kaper, spotted the small violent beast while on a night dive at Kimbe Bay, during a week of diving off the MV Piltdown. After snapping a picture of the creature’s combative interaction with a regular thorny seahorse, she bagged up the animal and took it to the surface to be scientifically described. Ms Caper comments: ‘It kept biting my hand during the ascent, its teeth were very pointy and it even drew blood. I hope the wound won’t become infected – I’ve watched a lot of zombie films and I am quite worried.’
There hasn’t been another sighting of the breed since, but on dissection of the creature, marine biologist Dr Poppy Cox has stated: ‘The critter is bioluminant, has a prehensile tail and lays eggs – much like lions don’t’. The genus is likely to be named Hippocampus hoaxtrix.
