This is a unique adaptation in the animal kingdom. How it happens During courtship, the male seahorse fills his brood pouch with water and "dances" with the female. The female transfers her eggs into the male's pouch. The male incubates the embryos in the pouch, which is similar to a female mammal's uterus. The male supplies nutrients to the embryos. After a gestation period of about two to four weeks, the male gives birth by rhythmically contracting his abdominal muscles. Other notes The male can give birth to up to 1,000 babies. The babies, called fry, are at the mercy of predators for the first few weeks of their lives. Genetic data suggests that seahorse labor might involve a similar process to labor in female mammals. Male pregnancy is also seen in other fish, including seadragons, pipehorses, and pipefishes
