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Fascinated by sea creatures, their striking morphologies, behaviour and habitats -  I was flipping through previous drawings for logo inspiration, when I found this pencil sketch of a seahorse I did and turned it into a digital version for my logo.

 

Seahorses belong to Genus Hippocampus, a name based on the Ancient Greek word - hippókampos (ἱππόκαμπος) - which translates to horse (hippos) and sea monster (kampos).

 

In ancient mythology, the Hippokampos were described as being part horse and part fish. It's surprising this ferocious mythical monster that drew Poseidon's chariot across the ocean, was inspired by the seahorse, given how gentle these animals are. There are 46 species of seahorse living in coral reef, seagrass, mangrove and esturary habitats in different places across the world.  

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The word ‘Hippocampus’ also represents a name given to the part of the brain that consolidates information humans learn, from short term to long term memory. It’s also involved in spatial memory, helping us navigate through the environment. The hippocampus is found in all vertebrates, including seahorses. 

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The seahorse, its ecology, the mythical story surrounding this sea creature and link to learning, ties into my own creative journey and the inspiration I find in nature. 

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