WEEDY SEA DRAGON More Life
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Quiz: Take the "Mate Like a Mudskipper" quiz. HowStuffWorks: Which other animals are masters of disguise? If it weren't for a very small, almost transparent, rapidly beating fin along the neck, a diver might never spy the weedy sea dragon among the kelp, weeds and other shallow ocean plants that it calls home. The dragons also feature a long sinuous fin along the back. Together, they allow the petite animals to navigate currents that would otherwise push them away. Larger appendages that resemble fins or leaves are only cosmetic, contributing to their concealment.
This delicate master of marine disguises, also known as the common sea dragon, lives in the shallow waters off southern, eastern and western Australia. Its close relation, the leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques), is even better at camouflaging itself.
Generally slender, sea dragons (of both the weedy and leafy varieties) have long tubular snouts, bony torsos and thin tails. They are often red or green with purple, yellow or blue markings; males appear slightly darker than females. Weedy sea dragons may grow up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) in length. Although they have evolved to be highly camouflaged and have small defensive spines, it's not known what animals prey upon weedy sea dragons. They, however, eat small crustaceans.
DANCE OF THE DRAGONS
In addition to their unusual appearance, weedy sea dragons possess a unique mating ritual. They practice an elaborate courtship ceremony in which they appear to dance. One weedy sea dragon will mirror the other's movements, creating an elegant series of slow back-and-forth gestures through the water. As you can see in the "Fish" episode of Life, the sea dragons perform their mating dance amidst underwater plants, which undulate in the ocean's currents, providing a sort of counterpoint to the dragons' own rhythmic movements.
The dance may go on for hours. By the time it's finished, the female sea dragon will have transferred her eggs to the male, where they are fertilized. The male will then carry dozens of eggs to term. The eggs are embedded in a spongy area of his tail, looking something like a cluster of pink pomegranate seeds. Within two months, the eggs hatch, producing baby sea dragons bearing small, red yolk sacs still attached to their chests.
Young sea dragons seek shelter in the weed beds that give these creatures their name. Soon enough they're counted upon to fend for themselves and continue the dragon dance.
Written by Jacob Silverman, HowStuffWorks
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