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  3. Leafy Seadragon

Bony fish · Syngnathiformes · Syngnathidae

Leafy Seadragon

Phycodurus eques

Near Threatened

It could become threatened in the near future if current threats go unchecked.

Spotted something wrong?

The leafy seadragon is a marine fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae, which includes the seahorses. It is the only member of the genus Phycodurus.

Size

20 cm – 35 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

1countries
9parks
4dive sites
3same family

Fun facts

  • GeneralIts leaf-shaped appendages make it indistinguishable from a drifting frond of weed.

Life cycle and biology

Skeleton type
Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bony fish)
Habitat and environment
Seagrass meadows, kelp and rocky reefs
Size at birth
About 2 cm
Sexual maturity
Between 1 and 2 years old, from about 20 cm
Gestation / incubation
The male broods the eggs on his tail for 4 to 8 weeks
Litter / clutch size
About 200-300 eggs, of which the male carries around 120
Life expectancy in captivity
Up to about 7 years recorded in captivity

Sources consulted: Wikipedia (es): Phycodurus eques · Australian Geographic, ficha de especie (evaluacion UICN de julio de 2025) · Lista Roja UICN, evaluacion de Phycodurus eques (Pogonoski et al. 2002) · FishBase, Phycodurus eques · A-Z Animals · Connolly et al. 2002a y 2002b via Lista Roja UICN · Australian Museum · Connolly et al. 2002b, telemetria ultrasonica de Phycodurus eques (via Lista Roja UICN)

Where to find it

Best time: Mating takes place in the southern summer months. It lives on rocky reefs covered in kelp and in shallow Posidonia meadows, between 3 and 50 m, with well-defined home ranges of up to 5 hectares

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The pins mark the parks and dive sites where its presence is documented.

Where to see it

Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.

Related species

Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Leafy Seadragon — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.

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Keep exploring

Based on what we already know about leafy seadragon.

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See full glossary
Ocean
CarnivoreSolitaryFishOcean
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TagsCarnivore
Australia