Year of the Horse: Singapore’s neigh-tive species

The Straits Times looks at the race to conserve local horse-linked species. Year of the Horse: Singapore’s neigh-tive speciesSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxA pair of horseshoe crabs mating in Republic Polytechnic on Feb 4.ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JINAng QingPublished Feb 16, 2026, 05:00 AMUpdated Feb 16, 2026, 05:00 AMSINGAPORE – There may not be any wild horses in Singapore but there are plenty of equine-inspired ones. In celebration of the Chinese Year of the Horse, The Straits Times highlights some of these native creatures.Horseshoe crabsSingapore has two species of these creatures, so named for their outer shell’s resemblance to shoes that protect horse hooves.Mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda)Mangrove horseshoe crabs (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) are not crustaceans like other crabs, but are closer in relation to arachnids such as spiders and scorpions.PHOTO: NATURE SOCIETY SINGAPOREThey grow up to 15cm in diameter, about the length of the iPhone 17. They tend to live in one mangrove throughout their lifetime. They are considered locally vulnerable.Coastal horseshoe crab (Tachypleus gigas)A pair of horseshoe crabs seen in Republic Polytechnic on Feb 4.ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JINThey can grow up to 25cm in diameter, bigger than their mangrove relatives. They inhabit spaces along the coast. They are considered locally vulnerable.Horseshoe crabs are considered keystone species, which means that they help to hold the ecosystem together. Nutrients are released in their local environments when they forage.Their eggs are also eaten by some bird species. Their blood can be used to detect toxins.The survival of the horseshoe crabs is threatened by the loss of sandy beaches and mangrove habitats due to land reclamation and coastal development.They can also die from entanglement in abandoned fishing gear.SeahorsesThere are three species here. Their equine links lie in their elongated heads, which resemble that of a horse, and their scientific names. In Latin, their genus Hippocampus means “horse” (hippos) and “sea monster” (kampos).Estuarine seahorse (Hippocampus kuda)Estuarine seahorse (Hippocampus kuda), a species of fish which can be found all around Singapore, in seagrass beds in shallow freshwater.PHOTO: WILD SINGAPOREThese creatures are usually yellow or brown, and dwell mainly in areas with seagrass. They are considered critically endangered here.Tiger tail seahorse (Hippocampus comes)Tiger tail seahorses (Hippocampus comes) found in the coral reefs in Singapore's southern Sisters' Islands.PHOTO: SISTERS’ ISLAND MARINE PARKThey inhabit coral reefs. They have yellow and black bands resembling tiger stripes, and are considered critically endangered here.The last seahorse species assessed to be critically endangered in Singapore is the Japanese seahorse (Hippocampus mohnikei). It was first recorded in Changi in 1999. Due to the absence of past records in both India and Singapore, there is a possibility that the small fish was recently introduced.The carnivorous creatures prey on living organisms, helping to maintain balance in the ecosystem by keeping their prey’s numbers in check. They are also a key indicator of the health of the habitat as they are sensitive to changes in the marine environment.Although South-east Asia has a great diversity of seahorse species, they are not well studied, said Dr Adam Lim, director of non-profit Save Our Seahorses Malaysia.For example, his team is currently in its 21st year of surveying Malaysia’s waters, while Singapore has minimal information on its seahorses. Work on seahorses and their relatives in Singapore is mostly sporadic and limited to sightings, he added.Dr Lim is working with scientists and nature groups here to document the distribution and diversity of seahorses in Singapore’s waters.Seahorses are threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.They are poor swimmers that are extremely site-faithful. Displacement of seahorses from their natural habitat will disrupt their life cycle.They also face indiscriminate destructive fishing, such as bottom trawling and fish bombings.Horseshoe batsThese mammals are so named for their horseshoe-shaped noses. Singapore has four species.PHOTO: JOANNE TOHThese bats typically roost alone in vegetation under large leaves. They are considered endangered here.Glossy horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus lepidus)A glossy horseshoe bat at the Rail Corridor.PHOTO: EMMA CHAOThey roost in hollow trees, tunnels and drain culverts.The other horseshoe bats native to Singapore are the greater woolly horseshoe bat and lesser brown horseshoe bat. Both are considered to be critically endangered here.Horseshoe bats have voracious appetites. One bat can eat thousands of small flying insects in one night. This helps to keep insect numbers in check.These creatures are nocturnal and live deep in the forest, which means they cannot be studied through simple observation, said mammal curator Marcus Chua. Researchers work at night using specialised equipment to detect and trap them.I