Sea Dragons

 

Imagine shapes that flap and flow. They appear quirky.  Sea creatures and seaweed  both sway and shed their coloring with flashes and glints. Artificial light creates a challenge. The photographer  moves beyond and plays with the blur.

Two types of Sea Dragons exist in Australian coastal waters. The Weedy Sea Dragon has a cartoonish shape. Both the Weedy and the Leafy Sea Dragon have protrusions that serve as camouflage. The pectoral fin on the ridge of its neck and dorsal fin on its back near the tail move it forward. They undulate to move it with the illusion of floating seaweed which provides its protection.

The Leafy Sea Dragon maintains its illusion when swimming, appearing to move through the water like a piece of floating seaweed. It can also change color to blend in.

It uses a pipe-like snout to feed, eating crustaceans, plankton, shrimp and small fish. Leafy sea dragons do not have teeth, which is rare amongst animals that eat small fish and shrimp.

Both are related to the pipefish and belong to the family Syngnathidae, along with the seahorse. They differ from the seahorse in appearance, form of locomotion, and inability to coil or grasp things with its tail.