Common Name: Weedy Sea Dragon
Also Known As: Common Sea Dragon
Scientific Name: Phyllopteryx taeniolatus
Description: A relative of the seahorse, the Weedy Sea Dragon can be described as appearing like an elongated seahorse. Primarily yellow in color and highlighted with red and patches of blue, the Weedy Sea Dragon found its name by appearing like the sea weed that it constantly camouflages itself amongst.
Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Syngnathidae
Genus: Phyllopteryx
Maximum Size: 45cm
Habitat & Range: Weedy Sea Dragons are found only in southern Australia between Port Stephens, New South Wales and Geraldton, Western Australia. They are also found in Tasmania, Australia. They live between 0 and 50 meters around coast and reef and can normally be found amongst sea weed and kelp.
Diet: They feed on zooplankton and tiny crustaceans.
Lifespan: They live for up to 10 years in the wild, less in captivity.
Predators: Weedy Sea Dragons have no known predators in the ocean. They are particularly vulnerable to the effects of pollution as they inhabit areas thick with kelp and sea weed which often become the resting place for refuse that is discarded in the ocean.
Red List Status: Near Threatened
Sources:
Fact File: Weedy Sea Dragon (2008, June 25) Parks Victoria
Weedy Sea Dragon (2008, June 25) Australian Museum
Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (2008, June 25) IUCN Red List