UK Seahorses. Spiny seahorse filmed in Dorset UK. Wildlife video.

There are two species of seahorse in UK waters: the Short Snouted and the Spiny. They can both grow to a maximum length of around 15 cm to 17 cm and live in shallow, inshore waters in the warmer months of the year amongst rocks, mud, seaweeds and seagrass which they cling to with their prehensile tails.
Both seahorse species have a wide distribution around the UK and are found all around the British Isles and Ireland up into the Shetland Isles.
Seahorses are often taken by predatory fish and have to rely on camouflage to avoid detection as they are poor swimmers, with only their small dorsal fin undulating at 35 to 70 beats per second to provide them with weak forward propulsion. Seahorses have an unusual breeding pattern; males vie with each other for a mate and once a pair bond is formed with the female they reinforce this daily to maintain it with an elaborate courtship dance.
I filmed these seahorses (under license) in Dorset, UK with friend and fellow camera operator Jack Perks.
While breeding populations of seahorses have been found in the Thames, in other areas where they are present such as Studland Bay in Dorset threats such as drilling for oil and overuse of anchors threaten their future.
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