leafy seadragon
World famous icon
The iconic leafy seadragon may be the most recognisable fish along the southern and western coastlines of Australia. Popularly known as “leafies,” these fish are part of the Syngnathidae family, which also includes seahorses and pipefish. These ornately camouflaged creatures live amongst the kelp forests and seaweed formations found along the Great Southern Reef.
The leafy daily diet consists of small crustaceans and sea lice found in their typical habitual locations around sandy patches and around kelp covered rocks and clumps of seagrass. Leafies will travel several hundred metres away from their homes and then return using their strong sense of direction.
These seadragons have no known predators, but they are tightly regulated due to a history of illegal capture for the aquarium trade, which critically shrank their numbers in the 1990s. The Australian government placed complete protection of all syngnathid species. In addition to human activity, their numbers are threatened due to pollution and industrial runoff affecting their habitual environment.
Divers at some popular locations along the Great Southern Reef have developed a ‘code of conduct’ to ensure visitors don’t disturb the local leafy seadragon residents, or their habitat.
Ornately camouflaged
Adorned with delicate, leaf-like appendages over their entire body, they are perfectly outfitted to blend in with their surroundings. Their leafy appendages are solely used as elements of disguise to give the illusion that they are a floating piece of seaweed and not for swimming.
In order to move, this species uses two fins — one dorsal and one pectoral that are so thin they are almost transparent. They are often brown to yellow in body color with white stripes along their torsos and olive coloured speckles along their appendages.
Daddy daycare
Like seahorses, seadragon males are responsible for childbearing while the female seadragons deposit their eggs to a spongy brood patch underneath the males’ tails while mating. The eggs hatch after about six weeks then the miniature dragons are released depending on water conditions. From the moment they hatch, the seadragons are completely independent.
Fast Facts:
Species: Phycodurus eques
Family: Syngnathidae
Order: Syngnathiformes (seahorses and pipefish)
Feeding: Small crustaceans and sea lice
Habitat: Rocky reefs, areas with tall seaweed
Distribution: Endemic to GSR
Special Power: Highly specialised camouflage
