Book 11, Question 61
Why Do Seahorse Dads Carry the Babies?
Seahorse dads carry the babies because they have a special belly pouch for the eggs! That makes seahorses one of the very few animals where dads are the ones who carry the young. The pouch keeps the eggs safe until the babies are ready to be born.
More fun facts
- A seahorse mom passes her eggs to the dad to carry.
- The male has a special brood pouch on his belly for the eggs.
- Depending on the species, a dad can carry around 1,500 or even 2,000 babies at once.
- Seahorse dads carry the eggs for up to about four weeks.
- At birth, the dad's muscles squeeze to push the babies, called fry, out of his pouch.
- Very few of the babies survive to become adults.
Sources: National Geographic Kids, National Geographic, National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine
Questions kids ask
What are baby seahorses called?
Fry.