The story summarized Thomas and Elmer found a seahorse in the spring in Sandefjord, something very unusual in Norway. The seahorse was hard and swam strangely, according to the boys. In Europe there are two species of seahorse, but they are rarely seen in Norway. Researcher Gro van der Meeren at the Institute of Marine Research says that the seahorse cannot have swum from England to Norway, but could have been carried by ropes or stuck in sea grass or rubbish. Ten to twelve seahorses have been observed in Norway during the last 40 years. Van der Meeren cannot determine what kind of seahorse the boys have found, but thinks it may be a short-nosed seahorse. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – They sew very strangely. It is also really hard. Elmer Holt (9) says so. He and his friend Thomasz Macel Milevski (9) are part of an outdoor group at school that goes on a trip every Friday. Elmer Holt, Thomasz Macel Milevski and teacher Gisle Johnson. found the seahorse during a trip on Østerøya in Sandefjord. Photo: Robert Hansen / news – Incredibly exciting Together with the other students at Åsgården and Granly school, they got a real surprise on a trip to Østerøya in Sandefjord last Friday. A seahorse swimming in the spring. – We just saw it lying and floating in the water. Then it only comes against Thomasz, says Elmer. Gisle Johnson is an experienced outdoor life teacher. But this was new, even for him. – These boys are looking for everything possible. They also came up with this one and actually knew what it was for. It was incredibly exciting, because it is extremely rare to see a seahorse, says Jonnson. Two species in Europe None of the boys has seen a seahorse before. And it’s not so strange. Facts about the seahorse Seahorses are a fish in the needlefish family that has a characteristic kink in the neck and swims upright in the water. There are a number of seahorse species, but usually they are tropical or sub-tropical. In Europe, there are mostly two species: the long-nosed seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) and the short-nosed seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus). Both have their known northern border around Great Britain. They have established populations in the English Channel, and there are known spawning populations. The seahorse is also known from mainland Europe north to the German Bight. They are not good swimmers, but use their tails to cling to algae or sea grass. SOURCE: Dugnad for the Sea, Institute of Marine Research In Europe there are two species – the long-nosed seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) and the short-nosed seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus). These occur, among other things, around the British Isles – from the English Channel up to Shetland. So not in Norway. – I didn’t know myself that it was so rare until I got some tips about it later, says teacher Johnson. – Looks like a chess piece – It looked like a chess piece. So it almost looks like a game actually, which is a bit unreal. But incredibly fun to watch, says Johnson. The boys put the seahorse in a box of water so that everyone in the class could see him. Then they released the tiny crab back into the sea. – You didn’t want to take it home? – No, it won’t survive then, says Thomasz. Not everyday food Researcher Gro van der Meeren at the Institute of Marine Research confirms that seahorses are not everyday food in Norwegian waters. – This is what we call a sensation. According to the researcher, it is probably not the first time that seahorses have been observed in Norway. Researcher Gro van der Meeren at the Institute of Marine Research. Photo: Christine Fagerbakke / Marine Research Institute – Seahorses have been seen in Larvik and at Tjøme in the past. Perhaps they have been here for several years without anyone noticing them. Van der Meeren says the seahorses swim strangely and that they swim very badly. – They swim with a small dorsal fin while standing straight up and down in the water. They sort of wiggle forward. – Couldn’t have swum to Norway She thinks this seahorse couldn’t possibly have swum from the coast of England to Norway. – They can’t do that. Perhaps it could have been taken to Norway with the currents, or perhaps stuck in seaweed or rubbish. The researcher says four or five seahorses were discovered outside Denmark last year. During the last 40 years, ten to twelve pieces have been observed in Norway. – So it is extremely unusual. Seahorses are very difficult to find, even where they normally live. Short- or long-nosed Van der Meer says there are only two varieties of seahorses in Europe, either short-nosed or long-nosed. She still does not dare to determine what kind of species the boys have found. – It is a bit difficult to say because the seahorse is not in water in the picture. I think it looks like a short-nosed, but at the same time it has some spots on it that mean it could be a long-nosed. She thinks the seahorse the boys found in Sandefjord must be an adult. – The mother puts the egg in a bag on the father’s stomach. It is therefore the father who looks after the eggs, so they cannot be involved with the current. Published 24.09.2024, at 15.19
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