Avaliação do risco de extinção de cavalos-marinhos (Hippocampus spp.) no Estado do Ceará

Abstract

Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are organisms highly dependent on structured estuarine habitats and are particularly vulnerable to environmental degradation and anthropogenic pressures. In the state of Ceará, these ecosystems suffer from impacts associated with siltation, shrimp farming, and tourism, raising concerns about the conservation status of these species. This study aimed to assess the extinction risk of Hippocampus reidi and Hippocampus erectus in Ceará based onthe International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria. The assessment was conducted by applying IUCN criteria A–E, using bibliographic data, occurrence records, and information on population trends and habitat quality across different estuaries. For H. reidi, evidence from the Pacoti River estuary indicated a population reduction of approximately 60% over ten years, a pattern consistent withdeclines observed in other coastal areas of the state associated with habitat degradation. Based on criterion A2cd, the species was classified as Endangered (EN). For H. erectus, the scarcity and low reliability of occurrence records prevented robust inferences about its distribution and population dynamics, resulting in its classification as Data Deficient (DD). The results highlight a significant vulnerability of seahorses in Ceará and reinforce the need for systematic monitoring to support conservation and management strategies.