Sea horses have complicated routines for courtship, and tend to mate under full moons, making musical sounds while doing so. They live in long-term monogamous partnerships. What is perhaps most unusual, though, is that it is the male sea horse that carries the young for up to six weeks. Males become properly "pregnant," not only carrying, but fertilizing and nourishing the developing eggs with fluid secretions. The image of males giving birth is perpetually mind-blowing: a turbid liquid bursts forth from the brood pouch, and like magic, minuscule but fully formed sea horses appear out of the cloud.
Sea horses have intricate courtship rituals that often occur during full moons, where they create musical sounds as part of their mating process. These creatures form long-lasting monogamous bonds, and the dynamics of their mating habits are unique in the animal kingdom.
What stands out most is that in sea horses, it is the males who take on the role of carrying offspring. They can be pregnant for up to six weeks, during which they not only carry the eggs but also fertilize and nourish them. The sight of a male giving birth, with young sea horses emerging from a brood pouch in a fluid burst, is a startling and remarkable occurrence in nature.
