കടൽ കുതിരകൾ
കുതിരകൾ എന്നാണ് വിളിപ്പേരെങ്കിലും ഇവ വളരെ ചെറിയ ജീവിയാണ്. പണ്ടുകാലങ്ങളിൽ കമ്പവലയിലും മറ്റും കിട്ടുമായിരുന്നെങ്കിലും ഇപ്പോൾ കടൽ കുതിരകളെ അപൂർവമായേ ലഭിക്കു. നീളം കൂടിയ ചില ഇനം കടൽ കുതിരകളെ തീരത്തോട് ചേർന്ന പാറപ്പാരുകളിൽ നിന്നും എഫ് എം എൽ ഡോക്യുമെന്റ് ചെയ്തിട്ടുണ്ട്.

Kadal Kuthirakal
Common species recorded from Indian coastal waters include the Spotted Seahorse and Longsnout Seahorse.
Although they are called “sea horses,” these are actually very small marine creatures. In earlier times, seahorses were occasionally caught in traditional fishing gears such as *kambavala* (shore-operated nets) and other nearshore fishing methods. Today, however, seahorses are only rarely encountered along the coast.
FML has documented some long-bodied species of seahorses from rocky reef habitats close to the shoreline.
Seahorses are unique reef-associated fishes easily recognized by their horse-like head, upright swimming posture, and curled prehensile tail, which they use to hold onto seagrass, algae, corals, and rocky structures. Unlike most fishes, their bodies are covered with bony plates instead of scales. They are slow swimmers and depend heavily on camouflage to avoid predators.
One of the most remarkable features of seahorses is that the male carries the eggs in a brood pouch and gives birth to the young. They mainly feed on tiny crustaceans and planktonic organisms by sucking them in through their long snout.
Due to habitat destruction, bycatch in fishing nets, and collection for trade, seahorse populations have declined in many coastal regions, making them increasingly rare today.