Early naturalists used the name Hippocampus, which was also given to the mythological fish - tailed horses that pulled the chariot of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea.
Pencinta alam masa awal menamai mereka Hippocampus, nama yang juga diberikan kepada kuda - kuda mitos berekor ikan yang menghela kereta Poseidon, dewa laut Yunani.