Slow-swimming fish, varying in size from a quarter of an inch to a foot or more, depending on the species (there are 35 in all). Males have pouches in which to carry eggs. Individuals are identified by their distinctive coronets. Like chameleons, seahorses change color to blend in with their surroundings. They are further camouflaged by encrusting organisms and by skin appendages, which allow them to blend in with algae.