Despite their fearsome name, seadragons don’t have any teeth. Instead of biting,
they suck their food down their long tubesnouts, just like seahorses and pipefish.

Size  Up to 18 inches long

Diet  Small invertebrates, including shrimps and other zooplankton, and larval fishes

Lifespan  5-10 years

Range  Australia’s southern coastal waters

Habitat  Seadragons live among the boulders, kelp and seagrasses of
Australia’s temperate reefs.

Predators  Seadragons rely on their excellent camouflage to protect them from
predators, such as larger fishes.

Relatives  There are only two species of seadragons, the leafy and the weedy. Seadragons
are also related to seahorses and pipefish.

Family life  Seadragons usually live a solitary life, but males and females pair up to breed. The female lays up to 300 eggs, which the male carries around on a brood patch near the base of his tail. After six to eight weeks, the baby seadragons hatch and swim away. They are completely independent from the moment they hatch and they grow fast. It only takes about two years for seadragons to reach full size and breeding age.

Conservation status  Near threatened   Leafy seadragons are only found along the southern coast of Australia. Many scientists believe this species is becoming less common.

Explore other profiles   Check out African penguins, green sea turtles and moon jellies.