Fish · La Saladita, Guerrero

Giant Seahorse

Hippocampus ingens

Spanish: Caballito del Pacífico

The Pacific seahorse, also known as the giant seahorse, (Hippocampus ingens) is a species of fish in the family Syngnathidae. This species is the only seahorse species found in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Most often recorded in Jan, Feb, Oct, Jun.

TaxonomyActinopterygii › Syngnathiformes › Syngnathidae

IUCN statusVulnerable (VU)

Local records7 research-grade observations within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)

Global records744 on iNaturalist

Recorded here2014 – 2025

Months recorded near La Saladita

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Recent local sightings

2025-10-18 — observation by zissou_divers
2025-06-22 — observation by zissou_divers
2025-02-21 — observation by sirenadelmanglar
2025-02-03 — observation by sirenadelmanglar
2024-01-22 — observation by deneb16
2016-01-03 — observation by valeriamas

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Fish guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “Giant Seahorse (Hippocampus ingens) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/hippocampus-ingens/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.