A large seahorse found off the Dorset coast is one of the biggest ever recorded, experts have said.
The seahorse, thought to be up to 20 years old, was accidently caught by a father and son who were crabbing on Poole Bay. They photographed it before returning it to the sea.
The Seahorse Trust said it was the fourth biggest recorded since records began in 1994.
The trust’s Neil Garrick-Maidment said it was a “brilliant find”.
There are two seahorse species around the British Coastline – the spiny seahorse and the short snouted seahorse.
Both of them can be found from the Shetland Isles, mainly down the west coast of the UK and all around Ireland, and along the south coast of England.
The Seahorse Trust said there have also been sightings on the east coast.
A few years ago they were found in the North Sea and across the Channel in France.
Mr Garrick-Maidment said the father “did everything right by taking a quick photo” before releasing the seahorse.
He said it had been added to the National Seahorse Database.
“This is the fourth largest seahorse recorded and was about 15 to 20 years old,” he said.
“It was in brilliant condition, which you can tell by the dots and lines on its body which are mucous deposits, seahorses unlike most fish have skin not scales and the mucous protects the skin.
“They are attracted to crab and whelk pots because of the shrimp that feeds on the bait in the pots.”
Mr Garrick-Maidment added that anyone who deliberately looks for seahorses should have a licence from the Marine Management Organisation.