Main Content
Leafy sea dragons are brown to yellow in body color and are more ornately adorned than the reddish colored weedies.
Photograph by George Grall
Map
Leafy and Weedy Sea Dragon Range
Fast Facts
- Type:
- Fish
- Diet:
- Carnivore
- Size:
- Leafy, up to 13.8 in (35 cm), Weedy, up to 18 in (46 cm)
- Did you know?
- The tail of a male leafy sea dragon will turn bright yellow when he is ready to mate.
- Size relative to a tea cup:
-
Sea dragons are some of the most ornately camouflaged creatures on the planet. Adorned with gossamer, leaf-shaped appendages over their entire bodies, they are perfectly outfitted to blend in with the seaweed and kelp formations they live amongst.
Endemic to the waters off south and east Australia, leafy and weedy sea dragons are closely related to seahorses and pipefish. Leafies are generally brown to yellow in body color with spectacular olive-tinted appendages. Weedies have less flamboyant projections and are usually reddish in color with yellow spots.
Sea dragons have very long, thin snouts; slender trunks covered in bony rings; and thin tails which, unlike their seahorse cousins, cannot be used for gripping. They have small, transparent dorsal and pectoral fins that propel and steer them awkwardly through the water, but they seem quite content to tumble and drift in the current like seaweed. Leafies grow to a length of about 14 inches (35 centimeters), while the slightly larger weedies can grow up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) long.
As with sea horses, sea dragon males are responsible for childbearing. But instead of a pouch, like sea horses have, male sea dragons have a spongy brood patch on the underside of the tail where females deposit their bright-pink eggs during mating. The eggs are fertilized during the transfer from the female to the male. The males incubate the eggs and carry them to term, releasing miniature sea dragons into the water after about four to six weeks.
Sea dragons survive on tiny crustaceans such as mysids, or sea lice. It is not known if they are preyed upon by other animals. They are, however, frequently taken by divers seeking to keep them as pets. In fact, such takings shrank their numbers so critically by the early 1990s that the Australian government placed a complete protection on both species. Pollution and habitat loss have also hurt their numbers, and they are currently listed as near threatened.
Related Galleries
Fish Features
-
Beautiful Friendship
Meet the clownfish, the crown jewel of coral reefs. Dive in and discover real Nemos in this National Geographic magazine feature.
-
Photo Gallery: Ocean Wildlife
Take a dip to discover some of the incredible wildlife that make their home in the ocean, from sea turtles and bearded seals to poisonous jellyfish and starfish.
-
An Uneasy Eden
Discover a pristine reef where sharks reign supreme in this National Geographic magazine feature.
-
Ocean Now
Join underwater explorer Enric Sala as he explores untouched reefs.
-
In the Whirl
Follow the hunt as sailfish prowl through blue waters.
Advertisement
Special Ad Section
-
Audio Slideshow
Take a photographic journey through Montana and hear Annie Griffiths Belt's narrative.
-
Adventure Videos
Check out adventure videos and go "Behind the Lens."
Shop Animals and Nature
-
Animal & Nature DVDs
Shop our store for a wide collection of animal, wildlife, and nature DVDs.
-
2010 Animal & Nature Calendars
Featuring stunning National Geographic photography, calendars make great gifts.
Blogs
-
NatGeo NewsWatch
Keep current on developments in science, nature, and cultures.
-
Dog Whisperer
Get the inside story as Cesar Millan helps problem dogs and their owners.
-
BlogWild
National Geographic explorers share tales (and photos) of their adventures.