22.03.2013 Views

Beachcombers Field Guide - Department Of Fisheries Western ...

Beachcombers Field Guide - Department Of Fisheries Western ...

Beachcombers Field Guide - Department Of Fisheries Western ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Common seadragon<br />

(Phyllopteryx taeniolatus)<br />

Chordata – Osteichthyes<br />

Although in the<br />

same family (Syngnathidae),<br />

the common seadragon is sometimes<br />

confused with the seahorse, however,<br />

seadragons don’t have a prehensile tail<br />

(one with the ability to grasp onto objects).<br />

The common seadragon is only found in<br />

temperate waters of southern Australia.<br />

Growing up to 46 cm in length, the armourcoated<br />

body can sometimes<br />

be found washed up<br />

onto the beach<br />

by a lucky<br />

beachcomber.<br />

Photo: Shannon Conway<br />

Did you know?<br />

Closely related to the<br />

common seadragon is the<br />

leafy seadragon. This species<br />

of seadragon is generally yellow<br />

to brown in colour and has more<br />

leaf-like appendages on its body.<br />

This makes it incredibly well<br />

camoufl aged among marine algae.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!