WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Weedy Seadragon

Phyllopteryx taeniolatus

Also known as: Common Seadragon, Lucas Sea Dragon, Sea Dragon

VUVulnerableIUCN Red List, 2025
Adult
@SailingBenH · MY, Malaysia · February 20161 / 13
01

Overview

Found singly or in pairs, anchored by their tails, over corals and seaweeds, on coral reefs, also sometimes off-shore attached to drifting seaweed rafts.
They feed on zooplankton which they suck whole into their mouths.
Eastern Indian Ocean - Australia

The Weedy Seadragon is the marine emblem of the Australian State of Victoria.

Pipefishes and Seahorses are unique in that the male gives birth! The female deposits their eggs after fertilisation into the males pouch to incubate the eggs for one month before giving birth.
They attach to anything they can get their tail around, even each other usually close to the bottom to blend in with their surroundings.
Seahorses are a threatened species because it is sought after for Chinese medicine.

02

How to identify

Pattern
spots
Body shape
weedy
Behaviour
pairssolitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Eastern Indian Ocean
  • Exact location · 3
  • Country only · 10
LIVES IN

Found singly or in pairs, anchored by their tails, over corals and seaweeds, on coral reefs, also sometimes off-shore attached to drifting seaweed rafts.

04

Adult photos 13

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderSyngnathiformes
    5. familySyngnathidae
    6. genusPhyllopteryx
    7. speciesPhyllopteryx taeniolatus (Lacepède, 1804)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Pipefishes-Seahorses (Syngnathidae)