Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus

The Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, is a native of the Southern Australian Coast and Tasmania.  Their seaweed-like camouflage helps hide them from hungry fish.  As with their seahorse relatives, they live on small crustaceans and invertebrates that they suck in through their straw-like mouths. The long mouths enable them to find food in tiny crevices in the reef.  As opposed to the seahorses, the Weedy Seadragon's tail is not prehensile (i.e., it is not used to curl around seaweed and other objects to anchor it).

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, stands out in brilliant oranges, tans and purples.  However, when hidden in dense seaweed, it very difficult to spot.  These beauties are from the South coast of Australia and Tasmania where they typically live in beds of seaweed.  They are under threat due to habitat loss, particularly of large seagrass beds, resulting from human activities.  Their diet consists of small invertebrates and crustaceans floating in the plankton.  As appearance suggests, they are related to seahorses and pipefish (but lack the prehensile tail).  As with seahorses, the males carry the young.  However, rather than a pouch, they have a spongy area beneath the tail upon which the female lays the eggs where they will stay until they hatch about two months later.

Weedy Sea Dragon

Weedy Sea Dragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. These little guys have evolved to match the seaweed they live in. They are native to the Southern reefs of Australia.