Picture of the Day: Can you guess what this is?

Publicat de Cosmin Meca, 4 august 2015, 12:42 / actualizat: 30 ianuarie 2021, 11:12

The leafy seadragon or Glauert’s seadragon, Phycodurus eques, is a marine fish in the family Syngnathidae, which includes seadragons, pipefish, and seahorses. It is the only member of the genus Phycodurus.

It is found along the southern and western coasts of Australia. The name is derived from the appearance, with long leaf-like protrusions coming from all over the body. These protrusions are not used for propulsion; they serve only as camouflage. The leafy seadragon propels itself by means of a pectoral fin on the ridge of its neck and a dorsal fin on its back closer to the tail end. These small fins are almost completely transparent and difficult to see as they undulate minutely to move the creature sedately through the water, completing the illusion of floating seaweed.

Popularly known as „leafies”, it is the marine emblem of the state of South Australia and a focus for local marine conservation.