Named after Hentje Pontoh, the Indonesian dive guide from Bunaken (Manado) who first brought these pygmy seahorses to attention.

[4] This pygmy seahorse likes reef wall exposed to current and rich in Halimeda plants or hydroids Aglaophenia cupressina between 11 and 25 meters depth.

The latter includes villi rich in capillaries that surround each fertilized egg creating a sort of placenta supplying the embryos.

[4] This species population may be vulnerable to the loss of meadows of Halimedadue to the acidification of oceans, however, it can use other habitats and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

The specific name honours Hence Pontoh, an Indonesian dive guide who brought these small seahorses to the attention of its describers.