Weedy Sea Dragon
Also known as the Leafy Sea Dragon, this creature is the closest animal in the ocean to the mythological beasts of the Middle Ages: every appendage of the Sea Dragon is beautifully decorated with appendages that undulate slowly, propelling the Sea Dragon through the water in search of prey.
Taking shelter in seaweed, kelp, and sea grass, the Sea Dragon is closely related to the seahorse.
Encounters
Divers must travel to the temperate waters of Australia to meet these highly decorated creatures; however, where Sea Dragons are found, they are often numerous, with up to a dozen individuals encountered on a single dive. Despite their beauty, Sea Dragons are extremely fragile creatures, and should never be handled, even though they are not venomous.
Scientific name: Phycodurus Eques
Diet:
plankton, mysids and other small crustaceans
Facts:
Sea Dragons swim very slowly, so slowly in fact sea anemones prey on them;
found between Kangaroo Island, South Australia, and Rottnest Island, Western Australia;
prefer depths between 3 and 50 meters;
like seahorses, males tend to eggs, but don't have pouch; instead eggs are attached to underside of tail where blood rich tissue nourishes eggs;
can grow to 35 cm, or 12 inches;
predators or prey have difficulty in identifying the Sea Dragon as a fish.
Research and Conservation Agencies:
Dragon Search http://www.dragonsearch.asn.au/links/links.html
Andrew Melville's Leafy Seadragon Page http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/5259/ilsd.html
Dive Tasmania/EagleHawk Dive Centre http://www.eaglehawkdive.com.au/