Named after the dragonsof Chinese mythology,
Leafy seadragons
(Phycodurus eques)
resemble a piece of drifting
seaweed as they float in the seaweed-filled water.
The Leafy seadragon, with
green, orange and gold
hues along its body, is
covered with leaf-like
appendages, making it remarkably camouflaged.
Only the fluttering of tiny
fins or the moving of an
independently swiveling
eye, reveals its presence. Like the seahorse, the male
seadragon carries as many
as 150-200 eggs. After
being deposited by the
female, the eggs are carried
in the honeycomb-shaped area (known as the brood
patch) under the male's tail
for approximately eight
weeks. Seadragons have
no teeth or stomach and
feed exclusively on mysidopsis shrimp. Known
as "Australian seahorses"
in Australia, they are found
in calm, cold water that is
approximately 50-54° F
(10-12° C). Leafy seadragons have been
protected by the South
Australian government
since 1982.
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