Searching for Sea Dragons

We go from one of the least appealing creatures, the opossum, to one of the most exquisite creatures of the sea - a relative of the sea horse, the sea dragon.  They are covered with appendages that look like leaves so they blend right in with kelp and sea weed and are perfectly camouflaged, or seen by itself can look like a floating piece of seaweed.  They can also change color to more fully blend in with their environment.  What?  You thought sea dragons were just a myth?  Not at all.  They are quite real, but at 8 to 14 inches long, perhaps somewhat smaller than you had imagined.  This is a leafy sea dragon in among the seaweed.  Can you see it?

Source:  littlestonehouse.com

How about now??!!  Don't you think it's appropriately named?

Source: listverse.com

If you saw it float by, would you think it was a fish?  The weedy sea dragon is related to the pipefish and isn't nearly as ornately decorated, but in amongst the seaweed and kelp, you would still be hard pressed to see it.  What do you think?

Source:  http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/743875

Sea dragons are only found in the waters off southern and western Australia and Tasmania.  Both are endangered species because of disappearing habitat, and are now protected by the Federal Government of Australia.  Particularly around Tasmania the giant kelp beds have almost completely disappeared due to rising ocean temperatures and being inundated by sea urchins which eat the new kelp sprouts.  The area has been overfished for lobsters which love sea urchins for breakfast, lunch and dinner so now scientists are now trying to reintroduce them to the area to try to give the kelp a chance at recovery.

Source:  bountyfishing.com

Like the male seahorse, the male sea dragon cares for and carries the eggs on a brood patch on his tail.  Once born, the youngsters are totally independent and take two years to reach maturity.  Fully grown sea dragons eat plankton, shrimp and small fish.

Source:  magazine13.com

Wouldn't you feel privileged to see one?  But let's hope THESE beautiful, delicate little sea dragons don't become the stuff of legend as well.