中文摘要：

海马为重要动物药材,用药历史悠久,市场混伪品众多。为正本清源,对历代海马本草文字记载、图片和照片进行考证,结合标本馆馆藏动物标本和药源调查,认为我国海马的基原应该是海龙科动物克氏海马Hippocampus kelloggi,1901、棘海马H.spinosissimus,1913、管海马H.kuda,1852、三斑海马H.trimaculatus,1814或日本海马H.mohnikei,1853的干燥体。《中国药典》收载的刺海马H.histrix,1856实为棘海马。并建议对海马性状进行修订,增加鉴别方法,以建立完善的海马质量控制标准。

英文摘要：

＂ Haima＂（ Hippocampus） has a long history in China as an important traditional animal medicine,but many closely-related members of the Hippocampus genus are also used as Haima in particular regions. To investigate the real origin of ＂ Haima＂,a herbalogical studies,particularly inpictures and photographs of the ancient literature are corroborated with seahorse specimens in museum,we confirm Chinese material medica ＂ Haima＂ in China Pharmacopoeia is origin from H. kelloggi,1901,H. spinosissimus,1913,H. kuda,1852,H. trimaculatus,1814,or H. mohnikei,1853. The so-called ＂ Ci Haima＂ is H. spinosissimus,instead of H. histrix,1856. The paper also suggests to revise of ＂ macroscopical identification＂ item and add identification methods of ＂ Haima＂ in China Pharmacopoeia,which may improve quality controls tandards of ＂ Haima＂.