Leafy Seadragon

ocean creature · camouflage master · Australian coast

Dressed in leaves. The leafy seadragon is covered in leaf-shaped flaps of skin that look exactly like seaweed floating around it. This brilliant costume helps it disappear into underwater plants so predators can't spot it.

Related to seahorses. Despite looking wild and fantastical, leafy seadragons are actually cousins of seahorses and pipefish. They all belong to the same special family called Syngnathidae, which has some of nature's most unusual fish.

Australian home. Leafy seadragons live in the cold waters around Australia, hiding among seagrass and kelp forests. They stay in the same area their whole lives, drifting slowly through the ocean looking for tiny food.

Tiny hunters. These creatures eat extremely small prey like plankton, tiny crustaceans, and baby fish. They have long snouts perfect for sucking in their meals whole.

Dad does childcare. Like seahorses, male leafy seadragons get pregnant and carry the eggs in a pouch until the babies are ready to be born. The dads are amazing parents who protect their developing babies.