Objective Proficiency p 24. The Seahorse Trust. Extra Listening

Slowly, almost weightless they 1________________________ waters. A curious appearance reminiscent of the horse to which they owe their name. Highly unique, this extraordinary fish once inhabited the world’s oceans by the millions. But research shows that our 2__________________ of seahorses in just a few decades.
There are thought to be around 30 species of sea horses populating our world’s oceans today. Found in the Pacific waters from north America to south America, in the Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Uruguay and in the waters of the Mediterranean sea.
Seahorses prefer shallow tropical and temperate waters less than twenty meters deep 3____________________ areas such as seagrass beds, estuaries, coral reefs or 4__________________. In winter they are known to move into deeper waters to scape the 5_________________.
The seahorse is a curious phenomenon in our oceans. Its appearance is especially interesting, combining characteristics from 6__________________________, lizards and fish. A male seahorse has a head reminiscent of a horse, a 7____________ similar to an aardvark and a 8_______________ similar to marsupials such as the Australian kangaroo. Independently moving eyes and its ability to change colour resemble the unique traits of chameleons. With this seemingly haphazard features it comes as a surprise that the seahorse is actually a fish.
9______________ allow them to breathe in the water and the swim 10___________________. However, unlike most fish which have scales seahorses possess bonny 11_____________________ arranged in rings throughout their body. Swimming upright, seahorses are rather poor swimmers, relying on the dorsal fin to propel them through the water. This dorsal fin beats between 30 to 70 times per second 12_______________________________ through their watery habitat.
Given their poor swimming ability, seahorses have developed different ways to navigate and manage their environment. Like monkeys,they use their 13_______________________ to grip on the seagrass anchoring them against strong currents and waves.
Small 14________________ provide the main food supply for seahorses. However, invertebrates and even larval fish tend to complement their diet. 15_______________________________________and close so fast that they create an effect similar to that of a vacuum cleaner. Food is 16_________________ their long thin 17______________, which can be expanded to accommodate larger size prey. With no teeth, seahorses are unable to chew their food and thus have to disintegrate it as they eat.While they are feeding they produce a distinctive click each time food is ingested.
Ranging in size from 1,5 to 35 centimetres seahorses have an average lifespan of one to five years, reaching sexual maturity at 6 months. 18___________________for life with one partner, seahorses are monogamous creatures,observed to even remain faithful after the death of the other.
Male seahorses can inhabit territories measuring only one square meter, while females can range one hundred times that size. As a result, it is up to the female to establish contact with the suitable male and once a 19_____________ is formed a pair will stay together monogamous,for life.
Every day for the rest of their lives they will perform a magical 20__________________ strengthening and rekindling their bond. During this magnificent performance, they are known to change colour, swimming side by side, holding tails or gripping the same 21___________________. However this is only a preparation for the true courtship dance. A mating ritual that will last up to eight hours. During this time, the female transfers her 22____________________ into her partner’s pouch. He shakes and shimmies to securely embed the eggs into his pouch before releasing his sperm for fertilization.
Depending on the species the number of eggs can range from 50 to a staggering 4000. For 2 to 4 weeks the male will carry the eggs in his pouch. Eventually, the male experiences true contractions for up to 12 hours before giving birth to fully formed miniatures of himself, expelling the 23_________________ in an explosive action into the water. When the last baby has been born the male has no more than an hour to recover before mating begins again.
Depending on the species baby seahorses are as small as a few millimetres to over a centimetre in size. From the moment they are born they must 24_____________ for themselves. Baby seahorses are known as fry and spend the first 2 to 3 weeks of their lives drifting along in the plankton layer of the ocean. The life of a young seahorse is hash and uncertain. Less than one in a thousand will survive into adulthood.
Seahorses have been swimming the world’s oceans for over 40 billion years. For millennia they have incited our imaginations relating them to sea-Gods and dragons, holding them as a symbol of strength, power and good luck.
Unfortunately, seahorses are fished for use in traditional medicine, as souvenirs and as lucky charms. Others are caught as accidental bycatch.
Over one hundred and ninety million seahorses are fished each year to 25______________________. A number so high that seahorse populations can no longer sustain themselves.
It is thought that between 1990 and 2000 the global seahorse population sank by fifty to eighty per cent. Should this rapid decline continue, our oceans could be deprived of this magnificent creatures within the next twenty years.
The survival of the seahorse depends on all of us. Please say no to souvenirs, medicines and all other products made from seahorses. Support conservation efforts and join initiatives that promote a new way in which seahorses and humans can coexist. Together we can protect the seahorse for generations to come.

KEY

Slowly, almost weightless they 1_hover through shallow_ waters. A curious appearance reminiscent of the horse to which they owe their name. Highly unique, this extraordinary fish once inhabited the world’s oceans by the millions. But research shows that our 2_seas could be deprived_ of seahorses in just a few decades.
There are thought to be around 30 species of sea horses populating our world’s oceans today. Found in the Pacific waters from north America to south America, in the Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Uruguay and in the waters of the Mediterranean sea.
Seahorses prefer shallow tropical and temperate waters less than twenty meters deep 3_where they live in sheltered_ areas such as seagrass beds, estuaries, coral reefs or 4_mangroves_. In winter they are known to move into deeper waters to scape the 5_rough weather_.
The seahorse is a curious phenomenon in our oceans. Its appearance is especially interesting, combining characteristics from 6_an array of mammals_, lizards and fish. A male seahorse has a head reminiscent of a horse, a 7__snout_ similar to an aardvark and a 8_pouch_ similar to marsupials such as the Australian kangaroo. Independently moving eyes and its ability to change color resemble the unique traits of chameleons. With this seemingly haphazard features it comes as a surprise that the seahorse is actually a fish.
9__gills_ allow them to breathe in the water and the swim 10_bladder aids buoyancy_. However, unlike most fish which have scales seahorses possess bonny 11_plates of armour_ arranged in rings throughout their body. Swimming upright, seahorses are rather poor swimmers, relying on the dorsal fin to propel them through the water. This dorsal fin beats between 30 to 70 times per second 12_majestically gliding them_ through their watery habitat.
Given their poor swimming ability, seahorses have developed different ways to navigate and manage their environment. Like monkeys,they use their 13_prehensile tail_ to grip on the seagrass anchoring them against strong currents and waves.
Small 14_crustaceans_ provide the main food supply for seahorses. However, invertebrates and even larval fish tend to complement their diet. 15__Their jaws open_and close so fast that they create an effect similar to that of a vacuum cleaner. Food is 16_sucked up_ their long thin 17_snout_, which can be expanded to accommodate larger size prey. With no teeth, seahorses are unable to chew their food and thus have to disintegrate it as they eat.While they are feeding they produce a distinctive click each time food is ingested.
Ranging in size from 1,5 to 35 centimetres seahorses have an average lifespan of one to five years, reaching sexual maturity at 6 months. 18__mating_for life with one partner, seahorses are monogamous creatures,observed to even remain faithful after the death of the other.
Male seahorses can inhabit territories measuring only one square meter, while females can range one hundred times that size. As a result, it is up to the female to establish contact with the suitable male and once a 19_bond_ is formed a pair will stay together monogamous,for life.
Every day for the rest of their lives they will perform a magical 20_courtship dance_ strengthening and rekindling their bond. During this magnificent performance, they are known to change colour, swimming side by side, holding tails or gripping the same 21_strand of seagrass_. However this is only a preparation for the true courtship dance. A mating ritual that will last up to eight hours. During this time, the female transfers her 22_unfertilized eggs_ into her partner’s pouch. He shakes and shimmies to securely embed the eggs into his pouch before releasing his sperm for fertilization.
Depending on the species the number of eggs can range from 50 to a staggering 4000. For 2 to 4 weeks the male will carry the eggs in his pouch. Eventually, the male experiences true contractions for up to 12 hours before giving birth to fully formed miniatures of himself, expelling the 23_offspring_ in an explosive action into the water. When the last baby has been born the male has no more than an hour to recover before mating begins again.
Depending on the species baby seahorses are as small as a few millimetres to over a centimetre in size. From the moment they are born they must 24_fend_ for themselves. Baby seahorses are known as fry and spend the first 2 to 3 weeks of their lives drifting along in the plankton layer of the ocean. The life of a young seahorse is hash and uncertain. Less than one in a thousand will survive into adulthood.
Seahorses have been swimming the world’s oceans for over 40 billion years. For millennia they have incited our imaginations relating them to sea-Gods and dragons, holding them as a symbol of strength, power and good luck.
Unfortunately, seahorses are fished for use in traditional medicine, as souvenirs and as lucky charms. Others are caught as accidental bycatch.
Over one hundred and ninety million seahorses are fished each year to 25_meet this demand__. A number so high that seahorse populations can no longer sustain themselves.
It is thought that between 1990 and 2000 the global seahorse population sank by fifty to eighty per cent. Should this rapid decline continue, our oceans could be deprived of this magnificent creatures within the next twenty years.
The survival of the seahorse depends on all of us. Please say no to souvenirs, medicines and all other products made from seahorses. Support conservation efforts and join initiatives that promote a new way in which seahorses and humans can coexist. Together we can protect the seahorse for generations to come.