Fishes - Australian Museum Fish Site

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Weedy Seadragon Phyllopteryx taeniolatus
Further details including potential threats

This large distinctive species (length averaging 30cm, maximum 45cm) is the only member of the genus occurring in New South Wales, and cannot be confused with any other local member of the family Syngnathidae. It appears to be a frequently encountered member of the coastal fish fauna, especially by divers.

Biology

Male Weedy Seadragons care for the eggs. There is presumably good survival of the 60-120 eggs. Reproductive potential and age of maturation appears to be poorly understood. These fish are poor swimmers, which explains the frequent beach strandings recorded in the Australian Museum database. The leaf-shaped appendages and cryptic colouration of this species provide effective camouflage, allowing them to feed on small crustaceans such as mysids.

Conservation status

The Weedy Seadragon is a protected species in New South Wales and Tasmania. It is listed in the 1997 IUCN Red List but only in the DD (Data Deficient) category.

Potential Threats

The aquarium trade is probably not a threat to this species because its temperate water requirement, diet and size make it difficult for the average aquarist to keep. Australian seadragons are not currently employed in traditional ethnic medicine, although dried and powdered seadragon can sell for up to A$200 per gram (Smith and Pollard, 1996). Fisheries impacts are minimal. The rocky coastal habitat of this species is not under threat from trawling and, owing to their feeding mode, this species is not caught by line fishers.

Further reading

  1. Dawson, C.E., 1985. Indo-Pacific Pipefishes (Red Sea to the Americas). Ocean Springs (USA): Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. pp. 1-230. (pp. 158-160).
  2. Dawson, C.E. in Gomon, M.F, J.C.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of south-eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen & J.E. Hanley. 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol.7 Pisces Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Survey. pp. i-xii, 1-665.
  6. Smith, A.K. & Pollard, D.A. 1996, The best available information - some case studies from NSW, Australia, of conservation-related management responses which impact on recreational fishers. Marine Policy, vol.20, no.3, p.261-67.

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Mark McGrouther
Collection Manager

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