One morning, dive instructor Nalu Olivier immersed herself in the ocean off Sodwana Bay, just like every morning before, intent on finding out even more about her beautiful backyard. Little did she know that she was about to make the discovery of a lifetime in those pristine depths.
That day, in amongst the algae on the ocean floor, Nalu found a little sea horse. Since she’d never seen one before, she excitedly shared photographs of her find with colleagues. None of them had seen a seahorse in these waters before either, and it turns out nor had anyone else – ever.
In fact, esteemed biologist, Richard Smith, based in the UK, has likened Nalu’s discovery to ‘’finding a kangaroo in Norway’’. That’s because the nearest recorded population of pygmy seahorses, lives in the Coral Triangle, over 5,000 miles away.
The Sodwana Bay Pygmy Seahorse
Not only was this little seahorse far out of the normal range for seahorses, and the first of its kind seen in African waters, it also has several unique characteristics that distinguish it from all others of its kind. Nalu had inadvertently stumbled upon a new species, one which now proudly bears the name, Hippocampus nalu.
Instead of the flat-tipped spines borne by other pygmy seahorses, this specimen has sharp, incisor like spines on its back. In place of the usual two gill slits on either side of its head it has one gill slit on its upper back, and instead of one set of wing-like structures on its back, this African pygmy seahorse has two.
Most pygmy seahorses inhabit calm waters and coral reefs, but these ones appear unaffected by the rough waters and huge swells of Sodwana Bay, quickly wriggling free when they’re swept under the sands.
The Secrets of Sodwana Bay
This latest find hammers home how little we really know about the ocean and highlights Sodwana’s reputation for being the home to rare and mysterious undersea creatures.
Would you like to discover the riches of the southern African oceans for yourself? This world-famous dive spot is abuzz with action all year round, so you’ll need to book early. Get in touch now, and you should be just in time for the 2021 dive season.
