Leafy seadragon (Phycodurus eques)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Phycodurus eques
- Common name
- Leafy seadragon
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Syngnathidae
- Genus
- Phycodurus
- Size
- 20–35 cm
- Depth
- 5–30 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- seagrass, rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, cryptic, slow-mover
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific
Description
Phycodurus eques reaches 35 cm. Leafy seadragon (Syngnathidae) endemic to southern Australia (Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia). Very elongated yellow-green to red-brown body covered with spectacular leaf-shaped brown algae-like skin appendages (leaf dragon) giving perfect mimicry of kelp and floating Sargassum. Male gestator (eggs glued on tail). Lives from 5 to 30 m in Macrocystis and kelp forests of southern temperate Australia. Listed LC but restricted distribution. Iconic macro photo subject of Port Lincoln, Whyalla dives. One of the most mythical subjects worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Leafy seadragon?
- Leafy seadragon (Phycodurus eques) reaches 20–35 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Leafy seadragon?
- Leafy seadragon is found between 5–30 m deep.
- Is the Leafy seadragon dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Leafy seadragon?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Leafy seadragon?
- Found in: Asian Pacific.
Other species in the family Syngnathidae
- Hippocampus guttulatus - Long-snouted seahorse
- Hippocampus pontohi - Pontoh's pygmy seahorse
- Hippocampus denise - Denise's pygmy seahorse
- Hippocampus severnsi - Severns' pygmy seahorse
- Hippocampus hippocampus - Short-snouted seahorse
- Corythoichthys flavofasciatus - Yellow-banded pipefish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 282248)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2332986)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia