Weedy Sea Dragon [Phyllopteryx taeniolatus]
Description
The Weedy Sea Dragon, also known as the common sea dragon, is a marine fish related to the seahorse. It is found in water depths from 3 to 50 m along the southern coastline of Australia. It differs from the Leafy Sea Dragon in having less flamboyant projections and in colouring. Its body is covered in narrow rings of bony armour, which can be a reddish colour with yellow spots, or a smooth olive-green. They are slow swimmers compared to other fishes, but they are perfectly equipped to mimic the swaying movements of seaweed and kelp in the water.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Jellyfish, Sea Anemones, and Relatives
Cnidaria
|
|---|---|
| Class |
True Jellyfish
Scyphozoa
|
| Order |
True Jellyfish
Semaeostomeae
|
| Family |
Blubber Jellies
Catostylidae
|
| Genus |
Leaf Jellyfish
Leptobrachia
|