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Leafy Sea Dragon
Although they are similar in appearance, the leafy sea dragon is not a sea horse. The leafy sea dragon, or Phycodurus eques, can reach lengths of almost 18 inches from head to tail. Their rigid hides make it difficult for them to move quickly, so their natural camouflage is important in their survival. Leafy sea dragons change color to blend in with their surroundings, so in a kelp forest they become just another bit of seaweed.
Habitat
Leafy sea dragons stay close to the kelp forests in the temperate waters off Australia's southern coast. Their known range extends from south Australia's Kangaroo Island to Rottnest Island in western Australia.
Breeding
After mating, the female sea dragon deposits 100 to 250 eggs on the male sea dragon, and he takes over from there. The male sea dragon is equipped with a special "brood patch" on the underside of his tail and there he will carry the eggs until they hatch. The eggs are safe in the brood patch because the male sea dragon's body changes specifically for this purpose during mating season. The brood patch is made up of tiny, blood-rich cups of tissue, each of which nestles an egg. These cups encase the eggs and provide oxygen to them through the blood vessels. The eggs hatch between four to six weeks after they are laid and fertilized, after which the miniature sea dragons are immediately on their own. The male sea dragon will mate again and hatch another batch of eggs before the breeding season is over.
Life Cycle
For the first few days after they separate from their father's body, baby sea dragons are nourished by their yolk sacs. Once this is depleted, the baby sea dragons must search for food. Their first meals are made up of zooplankton, a nutritious stew of tiny organisms that drift through the water. As they grow older and larger, the young sea dragons move on to other food sources. Sea dragons reach their full, mature length after about two years, but until then their delicate bodies and small size make them easy prey.