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Weedy Seadragon
Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (Lacépède, 1804)

A Weedy Seadragon at a depth of 15 m, Kurnell, Sydney, New South Wales, September 2000. View larger image.

An adult male Weedy Seadragon at a depth of 15 m, Shark Point, Sydney, New South Wales, 1998. Note the eggs attached to the underside of the tail. View larger image.

Head of an adult male Weedy Seadragon at a depth of 15 m, Shark Point, Sydney, New South Wales, 1998. View larger image

An 8cm long juvenile Weedy Seadragon at a depth of 15 m, Shark Point, Sydney, New South Wales, 1998. View larger image

The Weedy Seadragon has a long pipe-like snout with a small terminal mouth. The Weedy Seadragon's common name refers to the leaf-like appendages on the body.

This species is related to the seahorses. Unlike seahorses however, the seadragons do not have a pouch for rearing the young. Instead, male seadragons carry the eggs fixed to the underside of the tail until they eventually hatch.

The Weedy Seadragon grows to 46 cm in length.

This superbly camouflaged fish usually occurs in kelp-covered rocky reefs at depths from about 3 m to 50 m. It feeds on mysids and other small crustaceans.

This species is endemic to (only found in) Australian temperate marine waters. It occurs from the central New South Wales coast around the south coast of Australia to south-western Western Australia.

View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.

The Weedy Seadragon is protected in New South Wales. More details, including potential threats.

Related links

• Leafy Seadragon fact sheet
• View a list of Syngnathid fishes

Further reading

1. Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
2. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
4. Dawson, C.E. in Gomon, M.F, C.J.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
6. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and their Relatives. A Comprehensive Guide to Syngnathiformes. TMC Publishing Pp. 240.