Seahorses Are So Darn Progressive - Animal Facts
20Did you know that the male seahorse is the one that becomes pregnant and gives birth to offspring? Seahorses, which are small marine fish belonging to the genus Hippocampus, exhibit a unique reproductive process in which the female deposits her eggs into a special pouch on the male's abdomen called the brood pouch. Once the female transfers her eggs, the male fertilizes them internally. The fertilized eggs then develop and grow within the pouch which provides nutrients and oxygen to the developing embryos. The male seahorse's pregnancy lasts anywhere from two to four weeks, depending on the species. When it's time for the offspring to be born, the male seahorse undergoes a series of muscular contractions to expel the fully developed, miniature seahorses from his pouch. This extraordinary role reversal in the reproductive process is a rare occurrence in the animal kingdom and highlights the remarkable diversity of reproductive strategies found in nature. Subscribe for more animal facts! #shorts