Leafy Sea Dragon

The leafy sea dragon is a unique marine fish with a mysterious and striking appearance. It belongs to the genus Phycodurus and is a relative of the sea horse and the pipefish. It is one of only two species of sea dragons, the other one being the weedy sea dragon.

Physical Appearance

The distinguishing feature of this exotic marine fish is the characteristic leaf-like flamboyant projections arising out of the whole body. It usually grows up to a length of 30 to 35 cm and is a bit larger than its relatives, the weedy sea horse. Its body is brown or yellow in color, while the leafy appendages are olive green. It has a long snout, which looks like a pipe. The average life span of this sea animal is about 5 to 10 years. Its movement in water is facilitated by a pair of fins, the pectoral and the dorsal fin. The pectoral fin is located on the ridge of the neck, while the dorsal fin is located on the thin tail. Unlike the sea horse, it cannot use its tail for gripping. It has a small mouth, that does not contain any teeth.

It looks more like seaweed, because of its peculiar leaf-like protrusions. These leafy appendages give it a fascinating look and enable it to camouflage i.e. conceal itself in the surrounding environment. These protrusions serve a dual purpose as they not only assist these marine fish to evade predators but also help catch prey. It can change color. However, this special ability depends on the age, location and the diet of the sea dragons.

Food and Habitat

They mainly feed on crustaceans and planktons. Besides this, they also consume mysids, shrimp and small fish, especially larval fish.

They are found in the oceans of Australia, mainly the western and southern parts of the country. Earlier, it was thought that this marine fish was found only in a limited range. However, further studies in this regard pointed out the fact that they actually travel a long distance from their habitat, and has a strong sense of direction, which enables it to return to the same spot.

Reproduction

They generally attain sexual maturity by about 2 years. The female lays about 250 pink colored eggs, which are then placed on the tail of the male. The eggs remain attached to the brood patch present beneath the tail. The brood patch consists of small cups for holding the eggs. The eggs are fertilized when the female transfers them to the male. The male carries the eggs on its tail until they hatch. The time taken for hatching depends on the water conditions, though, usually a period of nine months is required. Once hatched, the young ones become independent and usually survive on zooplanktons or rotifers (minute aquatic multicellular organisms) and copepods (minute crustaceans).

Even a slight change in water pressure can cause extensive damage to this exotic fish. Besides, many man-made factors are responsible for the sharp decline in the numbers of this sea animal. Many use this fish in alternative medicines, while others collect it, for its mesmerizing beauty. Pollution, especially discharge of industrial waste into the sea, is another important factor for the decline in its number. Currently, they are protected by the Australian government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999. It is presently categorized as a near-threatened species by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), which highlights the importance of undertaking more conservation efforts to protect this marine fish from man-made threats.