About the Leafy Sea Dragon

Phycodurus eques or the leafy sea dragon is an aquatic creature related to the seahorse. Its leafy appendages give it the appearance of a piece of seaweed and its slow movements do not do anything to discourage this impression. Like seahorses, they have tiny mouths which they use to slurp up sea lice and fish larvae.

Types

There are two main types of sea dragon: leafy and weedy. They can be distinguished from each other based on appearance with the leafy sea dragons having a brown to yellow color, while the weedy sea dragons have a reddish appearance. According to National Geographic, the tail of the male leafy sea dragon turns a bright yellow when he is ready to mate. The weedy sea dragons are slightly bigger than the leafy sea dragons at 18 versus 14 inches.

Life Cycle

Like seahorses, the male leafy sea dragon also carries the young until they are ready to become free swimming. However he carries them in a brood patch on the underside of his tail, instead of in a pouch. The female lays 100 to 250 eggs which the male will fertilize and keep until they hatch four to six weeks later. Each male leafy sea dragon usually has two broods during the mating season from August to March. The average life span of a leafy sea dragon is five to 10 years.

Geography

The leafy sea dragon has a rather limited habitat and is found only off the coast of Southern Australia. In recognition of this fact, it is the marine emblem of South Australia. The Yankalilla District of the Fleurieu Peninsula holds an annual Leafy Sea Dragon Festival which celebrates the arts and culture of the community as well as raising awareness of the leafy sea dragon. The festival's values include "green and environmental principles" in an attempt to preserve the leafy sea dragon's habitat.

Challenges

Leafy sea dragons have several challenges to their survival. They are classified as "near threatened" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and have been placed under the protection of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999. Their main defense is their appearance, which enables them to blend in with the surrounding kelp. Sea dragons are slow and so fragile that they can be killed by simple handling. This is not much help to them against humans who capture them for alternative medicine, as pets or out of curiosity.

Regulations

The Marine Life Society of South Australia created the Diving with Dragons Code of Conduct. This asks divers to take precautions including "look but don't touch," "Avoid moving sea dragons up or down in the water column" and "take special care with male sea dragons carrying eggs." The Australian Government is particularly protective of exporting sea dragons as they have not yet been successfully bred in captivity. One permit is allowed each year for one person to export one male leafy sea dragon.

Resources

• Leafy Sea Dragon Festival