Seadragons on the endangered species list Their only method of propulsion is via small pectoral fins behind their heads and a long caudal fin along their back. Collectors and aquariums capture them from the wild to be displayed in undersized tanks for profit from consumers that are unwilling to travel to their natural environment to see them.Some have been killed for use in alternative medicines. There are only about 45 facilities in the US that keep them and all are part of extensive research and breeding programs. As such, the national government has made it illeagle to take leafy sea dragons out of water. It is the only member of the genus Phycodurus. The leafy sea dragon or Glauerts Seadragon, Phycodurus eques, is a marine fish in the family Syngnathidae, which also includes the seahorses.It is the only member of the genus Phycodurus.It is found along the southern and western coasts of Australia. The leafy sea dragons predators are sharks, despite the fact that they are very hard to find. Threats to survival exist from both natural and man-made causes. The leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques) is one of South Australia’s most famous and treasured residents.They are part of the Syngnathidae family, which means they’re closely related to both seahorses and pipefish. A native of southern and western Australia, the “Leafy” is facing extinction in the wild and is highly protected. They are slow-moving animals, and while moving, they look like drifting sea weed only. As secondary consumers, they eat krill, plankton and algae. Interesting Facts about Leafy Sea Dragons 10 the scuba divers in South Australia. Pollution and habitat loss have also hurt their numbers, and they are currently listed as near threatened. Leafy seadragons are an endangered species. Their only method of propulsion is via small pectoral fins behind their heads and a long caudal fin along their back. Some sea dragons get washed up by storms. The Leafy Sea Dragon is the official marine emblem of the State of South Australia. In Fact one of the reasons it is so rarely seen is that they are able to camoflauge with seaweed. Having problems signing this? Normally, Leafy Sea Dragon’s look like the majority of seahorses with a long snout and small fins. They turn a bright purple before hatching and are helped in the hatching process by the male as it shakes its tail and rubs it against rocks, coral and seaweed in the surrounding water. The scuba divers often spot the presence of leafy sea dragons at Victor Harbor, Edithburgh and Rapid Bay in South Australia. Threats to survival exist from both natural and man-made causes. That is its common name. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. Steering and turning is through movement of tiny, translucent fins along the sides of the head (pectoral fins, visible above) and propulsion derives from the dorsal fins (along the spine). "The best way to predict the future is to create it!". Amazingly, it is estimated that if Leafy Sea Dragons were to die out, an outstanding number of exclusively oceaninan sharks would die out aswell, leading to a great imbalance in related ecosystems. Steering and turning is through movement of tiny, translucent fins along the sides of the head (pectoral fins, visible above) and propulsion derives from the dorsal fins (along the spine). The original life span is not yet known. The leafy sea dragons can be found in the water around sea grass and rocks covered with kelp with the depth of 160 feet or 50 meter. Leafy Sea Dragons are a rare kind of seahorse with incredible camoflauge skills. The Leafy Sea Dragon is endangered and this is … Personalize it with photos & text or purchase as is! The scuba divers often spot the presence of leafy sea dragons at Victor Harbor, Edithburgh and Rapid Bay in South Australia. Leafy sea dragon, one of the weirdest animals on the planet earth, is the only surviving member of the genus Phycodurus which has been named after the dragons of the Chinese mythology. Each day, a single sea dragon may slurp up … The body of a sea dragon scarcely appears to move at all. According to the reports of IUCN they are listed in the category of near endangered. Dec 20, 2014 - This Pin was discovered by Brendasue Mccauley. Their leafy camouflage and spiny fins keep large fish from snacking on them. Many of them are found in the great barrier reef and south aswell as east Oceania. Seadragons are hard to observe in the wild and therefore there are no direct measurements of their life span yet. I asked the same thing about 8 years ago. The leafy sea dragon is transparent with a touch of green.They are now endangered because of fishermen and their nets. The store I contacted wanted $11,000 for a pair. The leafy appendages are so ornate and delicate, that the fish looks beautiful and fragile. They are called by this name as they have what looks like a leaf on their body. The leafy sea dragon eats small shrimplike animals called mysids that live among the algae and seagrasses. Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world’s largest community for good. One type of aquatic life is the Leafy Sea Dragon. The cost is $5K to $10K each. You can unsub at any time here. They are listed in South Australia as a Totally Protected Species. Endemic to the waters off south and east Australia, leafy sea dragons are closely related to seahorses and pipefish. Leafy sea dragons, Phycodurus eques, are listed as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: NEAR THREATENED (NT) A taxon is Near Threatened when it has been evaluated against the criteria but does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable now, but is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future. However, these species are believed to live for about two years in their natural environment. You can use a text widget to display text, links, images, HTML, or a combination of these. In captivity, seadragons are known to have lived for up to nine years. Edit them in the Widget section of the. ADOPT A LEAFY SEA DRAGON WITH US!! Because of their originality these animals are searched by ocean reasherchers and marine scientist. The leafy sea dragon is the marine emblem of South Australia, and according to the ICUN red list of endangered species is classified as Near Endangered.