Weedy sea dragon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weedy sea dragon |
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| Picture by Ferdinand Bauer | |
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Syngnathidae
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Phyllopteryx
Swainson, 1839
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| Phyllopteryx taeniolatus |
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| Where weedy sea dragons are found. | |
The weedy sea dragon, also called the common sea dragon, is a cool marine fish. It is related to the seahorse. This amazing creature is the only type of animal in its group, called Phyllopteryx.
You can find weedy sea dragons in the ocean around the south coast of Australia. They live in water that is 3 to 50 meters deep. Their home stretches from Port Stephens, New South Wales to Geraldton, Western Australia. They also live in the waters around Tasmania. Weedy sea dragons get their name from the plant-like parts on their bodies. These parts help them hide perfectly among the seaweed where they live. The weedy sea dragon is even the official water animal for the state of Victoria in Australia!
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What is a Weedy Sea Dragon?
Weedy sea dragons can grow quite long, up to 45 centimeters (about 1.5 feet). They eat tiny sea creatures like crustaceans and other very small animals called zooplankton. They use their long, tube-like nose to suck up their food.
Unlike seahorses, weedy sea dragons do not have a tail that can wrap around things to hold on. They swim in shallow reefs and areas with lots of weeds. When they swim, they look just like pieces of seaweed floating in the water. This helps them stay hidden from other animals.
How Weedy Sea Dragons Reproduce
Sea dragons, seahorses, and pipefish are special because the male carries the eggs. For weedy sea dragons, the male carries the fertilized eggs joined under his tail. The eggs stay there for about eight weeks until they hatch. Once the young sea dragons are born, they can take care of themselves right away.
It is very rare for weedy sea dragons to breed when they are kept in aquariums. Scientists are still trying to understand what makes them breed in the wild. Keeping sea dragons in captivity can be tricky, as only about 60% of them usually survive.
Meet the Leafy Sea Dragon!
The leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques) is a close relative of the weedy sea dragon. In 2006, the National Geographic magazine shared that marine biologist Greg Rouse was studying the DNA of both sea dragon species. He wanted to learn more about how they are related.
Images for kids
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Common Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, from the Sketchbook of fishes by William Buelow Gould, 1832
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Common Seadragon
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Weedy Sea Dragon
See also
In Spanish: Dragón marino común para niños
