Macro
Spotted Seahorse
Hippocampus kuda
A stout, variably coloured seahorse of shallow seagrass, silty bottoms and estuarine reef across the Indo-Pacific. One of the six Hippocampus species Marine Conservation Cambodia has recorded in the Koh Rong archipelago. Heavily taken for the dried-seahorse and aquarium trades, and IUCN lists it Vulnerable.
- Max size
- 17cm
- Habitat
- Seagrass beds, silty slopes and sheltered rubble, usually shallower than 20m; holds onto weed and debris
Best places to dive with Spotted Seahorse
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Marine Conservation Cambodia has recorded six Hippocampus species in the Koh Rong archipelago — H. spinosissimus, H. kuda, H. histrix, H. trimaculatus, H. kelloggi and H. mohnikei — and identified a seahorse hotspot at one small island. Most records come from seagrass and survey work rather than recreational dives, so finding one on a normal fun dive is unlikely.
Sources & last checked
Checked August 2026
This is a researched draft, not yet human-verified. The seasonality and logistics are drawn from the sources below — confirm specifics (permits, fees, closures) with an operator before you book.
- Hippocampus kuda — IUCN Red List — IUCN Red List
- Seahorses in Cambodia — Marine Conservation Cambodia