Leafy seadragon

Phycodurus eques · The leafy seadragon is a marine fish that lives only in the coastal waters of southern Australia.

Also called Glauert's seadragon, Leafy Sea Dragon.

Leafy seadragon
Photo: James Rosindell, CC BY-SA 4.0
Leafy seadragon
Photo: Antoine Taveneaux, CC BY-SA 3.0
Leafy seadragon
Photo: Sylke Rohrlach from Sydney, CC BY-SA 2.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderSyngnathiformes
FamilySyngnathidae
GenusPhycodurus
SpeciesPhycodurus eques

Where it lives

Kelp and seagrass beds along the southern and western coasts of Australia.

Fun facts

  • Its leaf-like skin flaps are pure camouflage and aren't used for swimming at all.
  • It actually swims using tiny, nearly transparent fins near its neck and tail, keeping its seaweed disguise intact.
  • It breathes through small, round gill openings covering tufted gills, quite unlike the crescent-shaped gills of most fish.
  • Females lay up to 250 bright pink eggs and stick them onto the male's tail using a long egg-laying tube.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).