Hippocampus bargibanti, known as the Pygmy Seahorse, are found from PNG to southern Japan. They grow to around 1-2 cm in length and are found at depths of 25-50 metres. These ones were photographed at Puerto Galera, Philippines, at 25 metres and were no more than 1 cm long. They inhabit only the Muricella species of gorgonian sea fans and their colour and bumps match the colour and texture of the host in detail. It is believed that some of the fan coral lives symbiotically in the seahorse's skin and reacts to form the wart-like bumps. They are very timid creatures, tending to turn away from cameras and strobes. This, along with their size and camoflage, makes them a difficult photographic subject.

Photographed using an Olympus C-7070 camera, Ikelite housing and strobe, with the camera set in Super-macro mode and strobe on TTL setting.