Seahorses' body shape explained (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Victoria Gill
Science and nature reporter, BBC News

The strange and beautiful seahorse has fascinated people for centuries.

And scientists now say they understand why this unusual fish evolved its equine-like head and S-shape.

A study published in the journal Nature Communications has shown that, compared to straight-bodied pipefish from which they evolved, seahorses are able to strike at more distant prey.

The team concludes that the seahorses' delicate curves evolved to help it hunt and feed.
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Using high-speed footage and mathematical models, Sam Van Wassenbergh from the University of Antwerp in Belgium showed that the curve in a seahorse's "neck" allows it to strike at more distant prey.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9373000/9373609.stm

[petronius]

1. So then why are horses shaped like horses? They don't strike at prey

:silly:

Pretty fascinating - it's amazing how often function and beauty go hand-in-hand in the natural world. Although the whole 'striking at prey' thing changes my view of sea horses just a bit (the sea dragons now seem a bit more aptly named)...

[tabatha]

2. I think seahorses look more like aquatic lizards.

[tridim]

3. Looks similar to a mammalian spine to me.

These curves appear all the time in nature.

I won the high school art fair using spinal curve shapes in one of my pieces. I found out later that the same curve is also present on the outer cross section view of the brain.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Are they that colour

because the Lone Ranger rides them ?

h2o Silver - Up and Away. :)

[xchrom]

5. love sea horses -- they're beautiful to me. nt

[Nihil]

6. They always remind me of baby dragons ...

... but I agree, they are beautiful.
:hi: