It is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and parts of the North Atlantic, particularly around Italy and the Canary Islands.

[4] Their preferred habitat is shallow muddy waters, estuaries, or seagrass beds.

[7] Regionally, the short-snouted seahorse is classified as Near Threatened in the Mediterranean and Data Deficient in Croatia.

[11] The short-snouted seahorse is found in the northeastern Atlantic, from northwestern Scotland[12] and the Netherlands south to Senegal and into the Mediterranean Sea as well as in the coastal waters of the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands.

[1] In Britain and Ireland, the distribution is influenced by the warmer waters of the Gulf Stream which create the conditions for higher productivity of plankton and this means that both this species and the long-snouted seahorse are found mainly on southern and western coasts but as the Gulf Stream flows into the North Sea to the north and south of the Great Britain small populations of both species do exist in the North Sea.

[10] Their dorsal fin has 16–18 rays with a dark stripe that runs parallel to the margin and provides propulsion.

[9] On average, the adult seahorse will eat roughly between 30 and 50 tiny shrimp a day.

The length of the reproductive season can vary based on temperature, light, and water turbulence.

If the male is successful the opposing seahorse will darken and flatten into a submissive position signalling that he has given up.

Females point their head towards the water surface to show that they are ready for reproduction.

There is placental fluid present which provides the eggs with nutrients and oxygen and removes waste products.

The male secretes the enzyme prolactin which initiates the breakdown of the outer layer of the egg in order for the placental fluid to be produced.

If the male is in a pair that he is familiar with he will be able to mate again within a few hours of giving birth without having any negative health impacts.