Book Review: Poseidon's Steed

If you've ever wondered about animals that fall into the genus Hippocampus, commonly known as seahorses, then this is certainly the book for you.  Helen Scales teaches readers about the biology, conservation, and historical traditions surrounding these mysterious and endearing creatures in her engaging book Poseidon's Steed: The Story of Seahorses from Myth to Reality.  Did you know that seahorses can camouflage with their surroundings and that the males are the ones that give birth?  Scales shares these details and more in what has to be one of the best examples of enlivening scientific information with cultural and historical context that would turn any reader into a seahorse enthusiast.

Despite the fact that seahorses love tropical areas, Scales shows readers how their cultural and historical influence stretches as far north as Great Britain and the Netherlands, with ancient gold plates and shields depicting sea creatures resembling members of Hippocampus.  However, nowhere does the seahorse influence penetrate more deeply into a national psyche than in Asia, where the demand for seahorses for medicinal purposes is one of the strongest drivers of global trade.  The demand for these animals is so high that they are listed under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) in an attempt to halt population declines measured around the world.  Unfortunately, instituting trade restrictions often leads to climbing prices on the black market.  That risk aside, the new rules state that traded seahorses must be large enough to ensure they have been able to reproduce before being harvested.

Human use is of course not the only danger facing seahorses.  Trawling, cyanide fishing, and pollution are common human activities that are slowly destroying the seamounts and reefs seahorses call home.  Project Seahorse is a grassroots effort that became a well-established nonprofit organization that promotes the conservation of seahorses through community involvement, fisheries management, outreach, and marine protected areas.  Check out their blog to learn more and support their efforts!

In sum, I highly recommend this story for anyone looking to consider the history of our fascination with marine animals and the many facets of species conservation.