News Animals

Odd head of seahorse cloaks its sneak attacks

Shape keeps turbulence from tipping off prey

PRETTY LITTLE SNEAKER  The head shape of a dwarf seahorse (Hippocampus zosterae) helps it sneak up on very jumpy prey. 

Gregory G. Dimijian/Science Source

By Susan Milius

This article is only available to Science News subscribers.

Subscribers, enter your e-mail address to access our archives.

Not a subscriber?

Science News is a nonprofit.

Support us by subscribing now.

More Stories from Science News on Animals

  1. Aerial photo of Florida Keys
    Animals

    The U.S.’s first open-air genetically modified mosquitoes have taken flight

    By Susan Milius
  2. African elephants walking in a line
    Animals

    Elephants are dying in droves in Botswana. Scientists don’t know why

    By Tawanda Karombo
  3. a long, thin electronic device with microchips in the middle and lights at either end
    Neuroscience

    Scientists remotely controlled the social behavior of mice with light

    By Charles Q. Choi
  4. divers testing coral disease treatments
    Animals

    A common antibiotic slows a mysterious coral disease

    By Cassie Martin
  5. black and white image of a mantis shrimp larva
    Animals

    Mantis shrimp start practicing their punches at just 9 days old

    By Charles Q. Choi
  6. a mantis hanging from a leaf
    Animals

    This praying mantis inflates a strange pheromone gland to lure mates

    By Jake Buehler
  7. illuistration of a pterosaur with opposable thumbs
    Paleontology

    ‘Monkeydactyl’ may be the oldest known creature with opposable thumbs

    By Maria Temming
  8. person holding bird with mask caught on its wing
    Animals

    Discarded COVID-19 PPE such as masks can be deadly to wildlife

    By Anne Pinto-Rodrigues

From the Nature Index

Paid Content