Find a Fish
Leafy Seadragon
Phycodurus eques (Günther, 1865)
P. Partridge examining a Leafy Seadragon at a depth of 9m, Rapid Bay jetty, South Australia. Photo © A. Bowie. View larger image.
A male Leafy Seadragon at a depth of 9m, Victor Harbour, South Australia. This fish is carrying eggs attached to the underside of its tail. View a larger image of eggs. Photo © A. Bowie. View larger image.
A Leafy Seadragon at a depth of 6m, Victor Harbour, South Australia. Photo © N. Conlon. View larger image.
The Leafy Seadragon can be recognised by the leafy appendages on its body. It has a long tubular snout, a pectoral fin on its "neck" and a dorsal fin on its "back".
It occurs on kelp-covered rocky reefs in depths from about 3 m to 50 m.
This superbly camouflaged fish is endemic to Australian temperate waters. It is known from the southern coastline of Australia, from Kangaroo Island, South Australia to south-western Western Australia.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Two species of seadragon are found in Australian waters. The second species is the Weedy Seadragon.
Further reading
- Dawson, C.E. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
