Seamoth (assorted)

Seamoth, or sea moth, is a common name for a family, not a single species. Wikipedia describes the Pegasidae as a family of ray-finned fishes in the order Syngnathiformes, with two genera, Eurypegasus and Pegasus. The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) lists Pegasidae as an accepted family. This group entry covers sightings where the species was not recorded.

Wikipedia says seamoths have flattened bodies encased in thick bony plates, large wing-like pectoral fins and a long snout. Their toothless jaws sit beneath the snout.

A conservation status is not given here, because this entry covers a whole group. Wikipedia says Pegasus lancifer and the two Eurypegasus species are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and the other species as Data Deficient.

Wikipedia says seamoths are found mainly in coastal tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific and live on the sea bottom.

Where Divers Find Them

At Amed, Bali, Amed Jepun Divers says sea moths lurk in debris at Melasti; Bali Aqua says the sandy slope at the entry of Bunutan is home to Pegasus sea moths; and bali.live says divers can encounter sea moths at Ghost Bay. None says which species, or how often.

Wikipedia says seamoths have modified pelvic fins that let them walk across the sea bottom, and a mouth that can form a tube to suck worms and other small invertebrates from their burrows. They shed their skin periodically, perhaps as often as every five days. It names bycatch, collection for traditional Chinese medicine and for the aquarium trade, bottom trawling and coastal development as threats.

Underwater Encounter Behavior

The sources cited here do not describe how seamoths react to divers.