Leafy Seadragon

As a sea creature, the Leafy Seadragon’s name is somewhat misleading, in the sense that it isn’t exactly a dragon nor is it “leafy” in the sense that it is a plant. Even though it is referred to as a “dragon”, the Leafy Seadgraon isn’t even a reptile, but its looks have deemed it worthy of being called as such.

Also known as Glauert’s Seadragon, the Leafy Seadgranon is actually a marine fish that belongs to the Syngnathidae family – owing taxonomic a link with seahorses.

Typically found in the western and southern coasts of Australia, the Leafy Dragon owes its name from leaf-shaped protrusions on its body, “appendages” which it uses as a means of propulsion underwater and also as a means of camouflage, matched with a general form which likens with that of dragons.

As a creature, the Leafy Seadragon can be found as the marine emblem of South Australia, with its image backing the state’s efforts and focus on local marine conservation.

Classified as Near Threatened under international Conservation Status standards, the threats which affect the Leafy Seadragon is borne from a combination of natural and man made.

Leafy Seadragon harvesting – mostly geared for medicinal purposes – stand to be the biggest “man made threat” to the species, matched with the dwindling of their natural habitats to pollution and other human interactions.

Given that in-captivity breeding of Leafy Seadragons haven’t been successful, the Federal Government of Australia has taken the efforts of officially protecting them from dwindling in their numbers, frowning upon acts which constitute the collection of Leafy Seadragons.

Though Leafy Seadragons are being kept in captivity in the Melbourne Aquarium, the Aquarium of Western Australia and in the Sydney Aquarium, they can also be found in captivity in different marine aquariums based in the United States.

 Leafy Seadragon Video