Pygmy seahorses are among the world's tiniest seahorse species, measuring less than 2 centimeters (0.79 in) tall, and are found in the Coral Triangle of Southeast Asia. The first species, Bargibant's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti), was discovered entirely by accident in 1969 when scientist Georges Bargibant spotted a pair on a gorgonian coral in his laboratory—a testament to their extraordinary camouflage, as they match the exact color and texture of their host coral. These remarkable fish possess unique traits, including a single gill opening on the back of their head (instead of two) and males that brood eggs in their abdomen rather than a tail pouch. Since 2000, at least six more species have been named, such as Denise's pygmy seahorse (H. denise) and Pontoh's pygmy seahorse (H. pontohi), which show diverse lifestyles—some live exclusively on specific corals while others are free-ranging among seagrasses. Ranging from 13 to 27 mm in length, they inhabit depths from 3 to 90 meters, with their fleshy bodies, short snouts, and prehensile tails making them look like tiny, baby-like creatures that are incredibly difficult to spot in the wild.