Editing Seahorse (section)

=== Fertilization ===
During fertilization in ''Hippocampus kuda'', the brood pouch was found to be open for only six seconds while egg deposition occurred. During this time seawater entered the pouch where the spermatozoa and eggs meet in a seawater milieu. This hyperosmotic environment facilitates sperm activation and motility. The fertilization is therefore regarded as being physiologically 'external' within a physically 'internal' environment after the closure of the pouch.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Dimorphic sperm and the unlikely route to fertilisation in the yellow seahorse |journal=Journal of Experimental Biology |date=2007-02-01 |issn=0022-0949 |pmid=17234612 |pages=432–437 |volume=210 |issue=3 |doi=10.1242/jeb.02673 |first1=Katrien J. W. Van |last1=Look |first2=Borys |last2=Dzyuba |first3=Alex |last3=Cliffe |first4=Heather J. |last4=Koldewey |first5=William V. |last5=Holt |doi-access=free}}</ref> It is believed that this protected form of fertilization reduces [[sperm competition]] among males. Within the Syngnathidae (pipefishes and seahorses) protected fertilization has not been documented in the pipefishes but the lack of any distinct differences in the relation of testes size to body size suggests that pipefishes may also have evolved mechanisms for more efficient fertilization with reduced sperm competition.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Biological Journal of the Linnean Society |year=2004 |volume=83 |issue=3 |pages=369–376 |title=Testes investment and spawning mode in pipefishes and seahorses (Syngnathidae) |author1=Kvarnemo, Charlotta |author2=Simmons, Leigh W. |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8312.2004.00395.x |doi-access=free}}</ref>