Seahorse

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Seahorse

• By Mrs. Matsumoto

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Brittle star

• By Austin

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Description

• Head looks like tiny horse
• 1 cm-12 inches long
• Armored plates cover body
• Curled tail
• Pointed snout
• Big black eyes

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Description

• A brittle star is a inch(2.5 cm)
• Tube feet on under side
• Change color

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Habitat

• Warm tropical seas
• Seaweed beds
• Hooks tail to underwater plants
• Coral reefs

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Habitat

• Under cracks
• Shallow water
• Eel grass bed

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Food

• Uses long snout to suck in food
• eats small sea animals like shrimp
• Great eyes which move separately to watch for prey

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Food

• Eats organic food
• Plankton and other small food

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Enemies/Defense

• Hard plates are prickly, so others dont want to
  eat it
• Hook tails on sea grass and hide
• Change colors to hide in surroundings

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Enemies/Defense

• If arm is cut off it will regrow it

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Reproduction

• Female lays eggs into males pouch
• Male is pregnant for 40-50 days
• Babies born live from male
• Babies hook onto each other with tails to form a
  group

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Reproduction

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Human Interaction

• People collect seahorses to use in Chinese
  medicine, for souvenirs, and to put in home
  aquariums
• Habitat being destroyed by developments, oil
  spills, etc.
• Laws protect seahorse in many places

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Human Interaction
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What can kids do to help?

• Write letters to government representatives
• Dont buy seahorse souvenirs
• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!
• Use less electricity to reduce need for oil
• Use less gasoline to reduce need for oil
• Be a respectful tourist when snorkeling or diving
• .

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What Can Kids Do To Help?
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Resources

• www.enchantedlearning.com
• http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/seahorse/roundup.html
  
• Seahorses by James R. Penney

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Resources

• www.enchanted learning.com
• Big chalk
• World book
• At home in the coral reef
• Goggle