Weedy Sea Dragon
About Weedy Sea dragons around Melbourne
Lucky for us in Melbourne we have a lot of weedy sea dragons on the Mornington peninsula, The most common dive and snorkel spots that they are sighted are Flinders Pier and Mornington.
A few other locations where they can easily be found is on the Geelong side west of Melbourne, Dive site Cottage by the Sea and snorkelling around Point Lonsdale.
Weedy Sea Dragon Facts
The Australian Weedy Sea dragon is the Victorian state marine emblem
Weedy Sea dragon or the Common Sea dragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, is a member of the Syngnathidae family which includes seahorses, pipehorses and pipefish.
- COMMON NAME: Weedy Sea Dragon
- SCIENTIFIC NAME: Phyllopteryx taeniolatus
- TYPE: Fish
- DIET: Carnivore
- SIZE: Up to 18 inches
- LIFE SPAN: Up to 8 years
Where can Sea Dragons be Found
In Australian, they inhabit the waters off south and east Australia as well as Tasmania. They Can also be found in Western Australia south of Perth.
But are more common In Victoria where you can find them in large numbers close to the Shore and seeking protection and shelter around the piers.
Reproduction
The Male sea dragons are responsible for childbearing as with the common Sea horse except the sea dragon does not carry the eggs in a pouch. The male weedy sea dragons have a spongy brood patch on the underside of the tail where females deposit their very colourful bright-pink eggs during mating.
The eggs are fertilized during the transfer from the female to the male. The males incubate the eggs and carry them to term, releasing miniature sea dragons into the water after about four to six weeks.
Characteristics
Weedy sea dragons have very long, thin snouts; slender trunks covered in bony rings; and thin tails which, unlike their seahorse cousins, cannot be used for gripping.
They have small, transparent dorsal and pectoral fins that propel and steer them awkwardly through the water. Still, they seem quite content to tumble and drift in the current like seaweed.
Gift Ideas