Bony fish · Syngnathiformes · Syngnathidae
Leafy Seadragon
Phycodurus eques
It has not yet been assessed against the IUCN criteria. See full glossary
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
up to 35 cm
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sighting difficulty
Unknown
Fun facts
- GeneralIts leaf-shaped appendages make it indistinguishable from a drifting frond of weed.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bony fish)
- Habitat & 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
- Lifespan in captivity
- Up to about 7 years recorded in captivity
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phycodurus_eques
Where to watch 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.
VulnerableGreat White Shark
Carcharodon carcharias
Spotted Wobbegong
Orectolobus maculatus
Least ConcernSouthern Right Whale
Eubalaena australis
Least ConcernBottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
Least ConcernAfro-Australian Fur Seal
Arctocephalus pusillus
Least ConcernNew Zealand Fur Seal
Arctocephalus forsteri
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Based on what we already know about leafy seadragon.
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