Leafy Seadragon

Hello there. My name is the Leafy Seadragon, and if you saw me floating by, you might not even realize I’m an animal at all. You might mistake me for a piece of floating seaweed! I live in the cool, clear waters off the southern coast of Australia, where I make my home among the beautiful, swaying kelp forests. The sunlight filters down through the water, making the kelp dance, and I dance right along with it. My body is covered in amazing leaf-like appendages that look just like the kelp I live in. But these fins are for swimming; they are for camouflage. This incredible disguise helps me blend in perfectly with my surroundings. When hungry fish swim by looking for a meal, they usually pass right over me, thinking I am just another part of the forest. It’s the perfect way to stay safe in a big ocean full of creatures bigger than me.

My days are spent in slow, graceful motion. I don't rush anywhere. Instead, I drift peacefully, letting the gentle ocean currents guide me. To steer myself, I use tiny, see-through fins on my neck and back that flutter so fast you can barely see them. While I may look like a plant, I have to eat just like any other animal. My favorite meal is tiny mysid shrimp. They are so small, but I have the perfect tool for catching them. I use my long, thin snout just like a straw, slurping them up from the water with a quick flick of my head. Even though my kind has been around for a very long time, gently floating through these waters, it wasn't until 1865 that scientists officially gave my species a name: Phycodurus eques. It was nice to finally be formally introduced to the world.

One of the most special things about my family is how we raise our young. In my world, the dads are the ones who carry the babies! After the mother lays dozens of bright pink eggs, she carefully places them onto a special spot on the father’s tail. This spot is soft and spongy, like a little bed for the eggs. He becomes the carrier, protecting them as they grow. For approximately four to nine weeks, he carries them everywhere he goes, making sure they are safe from harm. When my brothers and sisters and I finally hatched, we were perfect, tiny copies of our parents, complete with our own leafy fins. From the moment we were born, we were on our own and had to find our own food right away, starting our own adventures in the big kelp forest.

My kelp and seagrass home is so important, not just for me, but for many other sea creatures. Unfortunately, this beautiful underwater world sometimes faces threats from pollution, which can harm the delicate plants I rely on. The good news is that people began to realize how special we are and started working to protect us and our habitat. A very proud moment for all Leafy Seadragons came on February 8, 2001. On that day, I was officially named the marine emblem for the state of South Australia. My story is a reminder that the ocean is full of delicate wonders. By keeping my home safe and clean, you help the entire underwater world stay healthy and beautiful for everyone to appreciate.