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Book Review of Poseidon's Steed: The Story of Seahorses, from Myth to Reality

Poseidon's Steed: The Story of Seahorses, from Myth to Reality
reviewed on + 1442 more book reviews


This is a fascinating look at seahorses. So little is really known about this fantastic sea creature that lives throughout the world in salt waters. There are 39 or more types with more being discovered as time passes. The former has been documented as it seems that many identified forms were really one of these found in another location. However, that decision is still to be verified so she lists all she could find in the many sources she examined. Seahorses are still used in homeopathic medicine for many ailments but their use has not been verified. Nevertheless, one type has been harvested so heavily that it is now on the endangered species list. Varying in size from a few centimeters to as long as one's forearm, these interesting creatures have as many as 300 babies. In another part of the book she notes that the larger seahorses may have a thousand or more while the pigmy types may have only a few. While the female carries the eggs she transfers them to the male for fertilization and birthing. My only concern with this book is that the author occasionally contradicts what she has said in another portion of the book. Nevertheless, I found this an interesting read indeed!