Analysis: The habitat, behavior and eating habits of sea dragons
The sea dragon, or sea dragon, is a small fish that lives in shallow waters off the southern and western coasts of Tasmania and Australia. These animals are similar in size and size to seahorses, but have small leaf-like fins that camouflage them from predators.
Seahorses can grasp objects with their tails, while sea dragons' tails cannot. Sea dragons clumsily propel themselves with their transparent dorsal and pectoral fins, but mostly go with the flow.
Quick Fact: Sea Dragon
Common names: sea dragon, sea dragon (common/weed, leafy, ruby)
Scientific names: black cone sea dragon, leaf sea dragon, ruby sea dragon
Other names: Grault Sea Dragon, Lucas Sea Dragon
Distinguishing characteristics: small fish, similar to the seahorse, with leafy small fins
Average size: 20 to 24 cm (10 to 12 inches)
Diet: Carnivores
Lifespan: 2 to 10 years
Habitat: Southern and western coastal areas of Australia
Conservation status: non-threatening
Kingdom: Animal Kingdom
Phylum: Chordate phylum
Category: Actinomycetes
Order: Sea dragon
Family: Hylodontidae
Fun Fact: The leafy sea dragon is the marine symbol of South Australia, while the common sea dragon is the marine symbol of Victoria.
Species of sea dragons
There are two gates and three species of sea dragons.
Ye Yu Dragon Gate
Black-cone sea dragon (common sea dragon or weed sea dragon): Common sea dragon or weed sea dragon is found off the coast of Tasmania and in Australia's waters from the eastern Indian Ocean to the southwest Pacific Ocean. The fins of these sea dragons have small leaf-like appendages and some protective spines.
These animals are red with purple and red markings. Males are darker and narrower than females. Regular sea dragons can reach a length of 45 cm (18 inches). They are found in coral reefs, seaweed, and seagrasses.
Phyllopteryx dewysea: The ruby sea dragon was discovered in 2015. This species inhabits the coast of Western Australia. The ruby sea dragon is similar to the common sea dragon in many ways, but it is red.
Scientists believe the color may help the animal camouflage itself in the deeper waters it inhabits, as red is more easily absorbed.
Compared to the multi-leaved sea dragon, the common or weed sea dragon has spines and fewer multi-lobed appendages.
Algae phylum
Phycodurus eques (Phycodurus or Glauert sea dragon): The leaf sea dragon has many leaf-like protrusions that camouflage it from predators.
This species lives on the southern and western coasts of Australia. Leafy sea dragons change color to blend in with their environment. They grow to 20 to 24 cm (8.0 to 9.5 inches).
The leaf-like protrusions and discoloration ability make the leaf-like sea dragon almost invisible in its surroundings.
diet
Sea dragons have no teeth in their mouths, but these animals are carnivores. They snout at juveniles and small crustaceans such as plankton, mysis and amphipods.
Presumably, many species will eat sea dragons, but their camouflage is sufficient to protect them from most attacks.
reproduction
In addition to mating, sea dragons are solitary animals. They reach sexual maturity at the age of one to two, at which point the male woos the female. A female can lay up to 250 pink eggs.
When she placed them on the male's tail, they were fertilized. The eggs attach to an area called the brood area, which provides oxygen to the eggs until they hatch.
Like seahorses, males care for the eggs until they hatch, which takes about 9 weeks. The male wags and wags his tail to help hatch. The sea dragon is completely independent as soon as it hatches.
Protection status
Both the weed sea dragon and the leafy sea dragon are listed as "least concern" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. There are insufficient data to assess the conservation status of ruby sea dragons. Some sea dragons were swept away by the storm.
While fishing bycatch and aquarium collections do affect the species, it is believed that these impacts will not have a significant impact on the species. The most serious threats come from pollution, habitat degradation and habitat loss.
Captive and breeding efforts
Like seahorses, sea dragons are difficult to keep in captivity. While it is not illegal to have them, Australia prohibits their capture, only granting a license for research and conservation work. You can see these fascinating animals in most large aquariums and zoos.
Researchers have successfully bred common sea dragons or weed sea dragons. While the Sea Knights of Kona, Hawaii, have allowed multi-leaf sea dragons to mate and lay eggs, no captive-bred multi-leaf sea dragons have yet been born.
Bibliography:
"Ultrasound-tracked movement patterns and habitat use of multi-leafed sea dragons". Journal of Fish Biology.
Development and trade of Australian seahorses, pipe horses, sea dragons and pipefish (Syngnathidae family).
"A spectacular new species of sea dragons (sea dragons)". Royal Society Open Science. Royal Society.
Wonders of the Western Waters: Marine life in southwest Australia.
