Common name: Weedy seadragon. Scientific name: Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. Family: Syngnathidae.
Weedy seadragon: Now isn’t that a wonderful little specimen? AND it’s a dragon. AND it’s only found in Australia. What a winner.
We’re pleased to note that the seadragon is indeed a fish and is related to the seahorse, although the seadragon can grow to 45cm.
The adult is predominantly reddish in colour with some wonderful splashes of yellow and purple. As you can see above, their leaf-like appendages help provide camouflage in seaweed (although those brilliant colours probably don’t help too much with that).
They get to 50m depths all along Australia’s southern coastline. They are listed as a ‘near threatened’ species.
Quiz: Which Australian state or territory features the weedy seadragon as their marine emblem?
11th May 2012 at 12:47 pm
Hi Ms Carol Saab. What makes this animal a seadragon and not a seahorse?
11th May 2012 at 2:33 pm
Hi Marco,
Both seahorses and seadragons belong to the same marine fish family, Syngnathidae, so they’re more like cousins. Seadragons grow to be larger than seahorses and they are also unique in having those leaf-like appendages to help with camouflage.
11th May 2012 at 10:21 am
Well, if it’s not SA, I’m guessing Victoria. They have some at the Melbourne Aquarium. Incredible looking creatures in person!
11th May 2012 at 10:24 am
You win Mark. Sadly, you don’t actually win anything tangible… well, how’s about fame and glory?
C
11th May 2012 at 10:26 am
It’s enough just to know that I can now tell people that my home state has a REAL DRAGON as its state emblem!
11th May 2012 at 10:28 am
You’ll be the coolest kid on the block.
11th May 2012 at 10:06 am
I just googled it and I am wrong. SA is the leafy seadragon. Not the weedy
11th May 2012 at 10:06 am
Soooooo close Ms Fabre. And I mean that in more than one way.
C
11th May 2012 at 10:03 am
Am I right?
11th May 2012 at 10:03 am
South Australia