About Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (Lacepède, 1804)
The common seadragon, also called the weedy seadragon, has the scientific name Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. It is a marine fish that belongs to the order Syngnathiformes, a group that also includes pipefishes, seahorses, trumpetfishes, and other similar species. Adult common seadragons are reddish in color, with yellow and purple striped markings. They have small, leaf-shaped appendages that look like kelp or seaweed fronds, which help them camouflage, and a set of short spines for protection. Like seahorses and other syngnathids, common seadragons have a tubular snout and a fused, toothless jaw, which they use to capture small invertebrate prey very quickly. Males have narrower, darker bodies than females. Common seadragons have a long dorsal fin along their back and small pectoral fins on either side of their neck, which help them maintain balance. The species can reach a total length of 45 cm, or 18 inches. The common seadragon is the official marine emblem of the Australian state of Victoria. This species is endemic to Australian and island coastal waters in the eastern Indian Ocean, northern Southern Ocean, and southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is found along the entire southern coastline of the Australian continent, including Tasmania and other offshore islands. It is regularly observed from the area around Port Stephens, New South Wales, to Geraldton, Western Australia, and also off the coast of South Australia and the Great Australian Bight. Common seadragons live in coastal waters that are around 10 m (33 ft) to 30 m (98 ft) deep. They are associated with rocky reefs, seaweed beds, seagrass meadows, and any structures that have been colonized by seaweed.
