Weedy seadragon

위디시드래곤

A relative of the seahorse found only in the cool waters of southern Australia. It has a red body with yellow spots and purple bands, and small leaf-like appendages that help it hide among kelp. It is Tasmania's marine emblem.

See it on the 3D globe →

At a glance

Class: Fish
Lives in: Waters off eastern Tasmania
Diet: Meat eater (carnivore)
Length: about 0.4 m
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN LC)
Habitat: coasts, coral reefs

Quick answers

Where does the Weedy seadragon live?

It lives in coasts, coral reefs of the Pacific and Indian oceans. On the globe you can find it near Waters off eastern Tasmania.

How big is the Weedy seadragon?

It grows to about 0.4 m.

What does the Weedy seadragon eat?

Its diet: meat eater (carnivore).

Is the Weedy seadragon endangered?

It is listed as Least Concern (IUCN LC).

The weedy seadragon, or common seadragon, is a fish related to seahorses and pipefish. It lives in the cool coastal waters of southern Australia. Its reddish body has yellow spots and purple bands, and small leaf-like growths sprout from it, making it look like a drifting piece of seaweed.

It can grow up to about 45 centimetres long. It has a long tube-shaped snout and a toothless jaw, which it uses to suck up tiny shrimp-like animals very quickly. The weedy seadragon is also the marine emblem of the Australian state of Victoria. Its shape and colour are so perfect for hiding that divers have to look carefully to spot one.

A master of disguise

Seadragons move slowly and rely on camouflage. Their leafy appendages look like kelp fronds, and they drift gently among seaweed and seagrass in rocky reefs 10 to 30 metres deep.

Unlike seahorses, they cannot grip with their tails, so they just float. Spines on the body give extra protection. Males have narrower, darker bodies than females. Their leafy bits are not for swimming; the dorsal and chest fins do the work.

Dad carries the eggs

As with seahorses, it is the father who carries the eggs. The female places them on a patch under his tail, and he looks after them until they hatch.

Weedy seadragons are usually seen alone or in pairs. Seadragons usually appear alone or in a pair, drifting at the pace of the swell. The male carries them stuck under his tail, so he is the one who guards the next generation.

Fun facts

As with seahorses, the father carries the eggs, stuck under his tail, until they hatch.
Dad carries the eggs under his tail.
It can look just like a piece of kelp.
It is the marine emblem of Victoria, Australia.