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.
Loodusteadlased andsid neile nime Hippocampus, mille all tunti ka kalasabaga mütoloogilisi hobuseid, kes vedasid Kreeka merejumala Poseidoni vankrit.