The Leafy Sea Dragon

Leafy Sea Dragon - Phycodurus eques

One type of aquatic life is the Leafy Sea Dragon. They are called by this name as they have what looks like a leaf on their body. This is the main way that they are able to remain well hidden from predators. They are well known around Australia as a source of good luck.

That is why you will see this particular symbol as part of the various festivals and activities that occur there. While you can barely see them the Leafy Sea Dragon does feature both pectoral and dorsal fins. Their bodies simply look like a plant that is just flowing along in the water. That helps them to remain unharmed. They don’t have a coiled tail either so that makes it even more appealing that they are part of the foliage and not something alive.

This species of seahorse can be about 8 inches long so it is among the largest that you will find out there in the wild. The females are smaller than the males with an average size ranging from 6 to 7 inches. They are also considered to be one of the most unique looking of all species in the world. They don’t feature the prehensile tail that is very common for seahorse species.

Behavior

When the water is calm you will find that the Leafy Sea Dragon remains still for very long periods of time. When it isn’t feeding it is going to be resting. They can become tired out very easily. When the water moves too fast they are at risk of dying from exhaustion. This can kill large numbers of them when there is a terrible storm.

The powerful sense of direction that they possess is very interesting to experts. They are able to move long distances in an effort to find food. However they are able to find their way back to the same location for resting again and again. When they do move it is about 1/8 of a mile per hour so they are one of the slowest types of seahorses in the world.

(source:google/http://www.seahorseworlds.com/)