Common Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (Lacépède 1804)
A Common Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, at Flinders, Western Port, Victoria, March 2007. Source: Sascha Schultz / iNaturalist.org. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial
A large, colourful seadragon with a long tubular snout, simple leaf-like appendages on the body that resemble kelp fronds. Females are deeper-bodied than males.
The Common Seadragon is the Marine State Emblem of Victoria.
Stunning video footage of Common Seadragons from the BBC Life series
Video of courtship behaviour of Common Seagragons
Common Seadragons feeding at Flinders Pier, Western Port, Victoria
Video of an Australian Fur Seal playing with a Draughtboard shark and a Common Seadragon at Flinders Pier, Western Port, Victoria.
Common Seadragons (aka Weedy Sea Dragons) in Jervis Bay, New South Wales.
Common Seadragons in their natural habitat.
Take a look at Monterey Bay Aquarium's youtube clip "Daddy" Weedy Sea Dragon has Babies!
Video of a Common Seadragon in New South Wales.
Common Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (Lacépède 1804)
More Info
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Distribution |
Endemic to temperate coastal waters of southern Australia, from about Newcastle (New South Wales) south to Actaeon Island (Tasmania) and across southern Australia to about Geraldton (Western Australia). Common seadragons inhabit shallow estuaries to deeper offshore reefs, living seagrass beds and on rocky reefs covered in macroalgae, especially kelp beds, in depths of 1-50 m. Individuals usually remain within a broad home range. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin 27-34; Anal fin 4-5; Pectoral fin 20-23; Trunk rings 17; Tail rings 31-37; Subdorsal rings 1.75-0.25 + 5.00-7.00 = 6.00-8.00. Body slender and elongate, slightly contorted, trunk deep in adults, body posterior to dorsal fin much shorter than that before dorsal fin; body encased in ring like bony plates, trunk with bilaterally paired, enlarged, flattened spines on dorsum of 11th ring, ventral margins of eighth or ninth rings, and small spine on dorsum of 17th; superior ridges of tail with about five, paired or unilateal, flat spines; flat, ovate, dermal flaps typically present on each enlarged head and body spine. Superior trunk ridge (STR) and Superior tail ridge (STAR) discontinuous near rear of dorsal fin base; Inferior trunk ridge (ITR) and Inferior tail ridge (ITAR) discontinuous; Lateral trunk ridge (LTR)confluent with Lateral tail ridge (LTAR) and STAR; eggs brooded by males on open undersurface of tail just behind anal fin; tail prehensile. Head directed at slight angle to line of body; snout long (59-73% HL), slender (snout depth 7-14% snout length), compressed, with prominent recurved lateral spine; median dorsal snout ridge inconspicuous; opercles finely striate. Scales and lateral line absent. Single dorsal fin centrally on back, with moderately elongate base; anal fin very small, below front half of dorsal fin; caudal fin absent; pectoral fins small. Sexually dimorphic - females have a deeper trunk compared with the males. |
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Size |
To 45cm. |
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Colour |
Variable in colour - usually reddish-orange to purplish with fine yellow spots on head and body, especially dorsally, and bluish bars on sides of trunk and base of tail; tail often with three or four dark bars; oval-shaped dermal flaps variably dark throughout, with a pale median blotch or with narrow pale edges. |
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Feeding |
Feeds on a range of tiny invertebrates, especially crustaceans such as mysids that are sucked in through the tubular snout. Seadragons are ambush predators, relying on camouflage and stealth to approach their unsuspecting prey. |
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Biology |
Common Seadragons breed from June to January, with some males having two broods per season. Males brood and nourish up to 250 developing eggs in a specialised area on the underside of the tail. The gestation period is 30-38 days. Although some individuals mature after a year, most do not breed until their second summer. |
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Fisheries |
Although Common Seadragons are of interest to the aquarium industry, they are difficult to breed in captivity and are difficult to raise. |
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Conservation |
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Remarks |
The Common Seadragon is the Marine State Emblem of Victoria. |
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Similar Species |
The related Ruby Seadragon, Phyllopteryx dewysea, occurs in south-western Western Australia. |
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Etymology |
The specific name taeniolatus is from the Latin taeniola (= small ribbon, tape), in reference to the small leaf-like appendages adorning the body. |
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Species Citation |
Syngnatus (sic) taeniolatus Lacepède, 1804, Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 4: 211, pl. 58, fig. 3. Type locality: Bass Strait (as New Holland). |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2024 |
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Resources |
Common Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (Lacépède 1804)
References
Castelnau, F.L. de 1872. Contribution to the ichthyology of Australia. 2. Note on some South Australian fishes. Proceedings of the Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria 1: 243-248 (described as Phillopteryx elongatus, type locality St Vincent Gulf, SA) See ref at BHL
Coleman, N. 1980. Australian Sea Fishes South of 30ºS. Lane Cove, NSW : Doubleday Australia Pty Ltd 309 pp.
Dawson, C.E. 1985. Indo-Pacific Pipefishes (Red Sea to the Americas). Ocean Springs (Mississippi) : Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 230 pp. 293 figs pl. 1.
Dawson, C.E. 1994. Family Syngnathidae. pp. 440-475 figs 391-426 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.
Hoschke, A., Whisson, G. & Moore, G.I. 2019. Complete list of fishes from Rottnest Island. pp. 150-161 in Whisson, G. & Hoschke, A. (eds). The Rottnest Island fish book. 2nd ed. Perth : Aqua Research and Monitoring Services.
Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp.
Klanten, O.S., Gaither, M.R., Greaves, S., Mills, K., et al. 2020. Genomic and morphological evidence of distinct populations in the endemic common (weedy) seadragon Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (Syngnathidae) along the east coast of Australia. PLoS ONE 15(12): e0243446. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243446
Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp.
Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to sea fishes of Australia. A comprehensive reference for divers and fishermen. Sydney, NSW, Australia : New Holland Publishers xvii, 434 pp.
Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and Their Relatives. Chorleywood, UK : TMC Publishing 240 pp.
Kuiter, R.H. 2008. Syngnathidae. pp. 448-479 in Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.
Kuiter, R.H. 2009. Seahorses and their relatives. Seaford, Australia : Aquatic Photographics pp. 331.
Lacepède, B.G. 1804. Mémoire sur plusieurs animaux de la Nouvelle Hollande dont la description n'a pas encore été publiée. Annales du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. Paris 4: 184-211 pls 55-58 See ref at BHL
Martin-Smith, K.M. 2011. Photo-identification of individual weedy seadragons Phyllopteryx taeniolatus and its application in estimating population dynamics. Journal of Fish Biology 78: 1757–1768.
Martin-Smith, K.M. & Vincent, A.C.J. 2006. Exploitation and trade of Australian seahorses, pipehorses, sea dragons and pipefishes (family Syngnathidae). Oryx 40: 141–151.
McCoy, F. 1882. Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria. Decade 7. Melbourne : George Robertson Vol. 1 1-37 pls 61-70. (described as Phyllopteryx altus, type locality Tasmania) See ref at BHL
Perry, G. 1810. Ichthyology. In, Arcana; or The Museum of Natural History. 2 unnumbered pages. 1 unnumbered plate. (described as Hippocampus foliatus, type locality Botany Bay, NSW) See ref at BHL
Pollom, R. 2017. Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T17177A67624517. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T17177A67624517.en. Accessed on 03 April 2023.
Richardson, J. 1843. Report on the present state of the ichthyology of New Zealand. Report of the 12th meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science 1842: 12-30 (as Hippocampus foliaceus, nomen nudum)
Sanchez-Camara, J. & Booth, D. 2004. Movement, home range and site fidelity of the weedy seadragon Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (Teleostei: Syngnathidae). Environmental Biology of Fishes 70: 31-41. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EBFI.0000022850.33643.e3
Sánchez-Camara, J., Booth, D.J., Murdoch, J., Watts, D. & Turon, X. 2006. Abundance, habitat use and behaviour of the weedy seadragon Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) around Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 137: 737-745. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF05220
Sanchez-Camara, J., Booth, D.J. & Turon, X. 2005. Reproductive cycle and growth of Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. Journal of Fish Biology 67: 133-148. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-1112.2005.00720.x
Sanchez-Camara, J., Martin-Smith, K., Booth, D.J., Fritschi, J. & Turon, X. 2011. Demographics and vulnerability of a unique Australian fish, the weedy seadragon Phyllopteryx taeniolatus. Marine Ecology Progress Series 422: 253-264. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08920
Shaw, G. 1804. General Zoology or systematic natural history. Fishes. London : G. Kearsley Vol. 5 1-463 pls 1 (or 93)-182. (described as Syngnathus foliatus, type locality New Holland) See ref at BHL
Stiller, J., Wilson, N.G. & Rouse, G.W. 2015 A spectacular new species of seadragon (Syngnathidae). Royal Society open science 2: 140458. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.140458
Whitley, G.P. 1931. Studies in Ichthyology No. 4. Records of the Australian Museum 18(3): 96-133 figs 1-2 pls 11-16 https://doi.org/10.3853/j.0067-1975.18.1931.720 (described as Phyllopteryx lucasi, type locality Middleton Beach, Albany, Western Australia)
Wilson, N.G., Stiller, J. & Rouse, G.W. 2016. Barriers to gene flow in common seadragons (Syngnathidae: Phyllopteryx taeniolatus). Conservation Genetics https://doi.org/0.1007/ s10592-10016-10881-y
