• Vicki Schmand
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  • Added 16 Sep 2005
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Dragon members challenge.

This is my entry for the "Dragons" members challenge. Some info..taken from Dive Gallery.com.. Close relatives of sea horses, sea dragons have larger bodies and leaf-like appendages which enable them to hide among floating seaweed or kelp beds. Sea dragons feed on larval fishes and amphipods, such as and small shrimp-like crustaceans called mysids ("sea lice"), sucking up their prey in their small mouths. Many of these amphipods feed on the red algae that thrives in the shade of the kelp forests where the sea dragons live. As with their smaller common seahorse (and pipefish) cousins, the male sea dragon carries and incubates the eggs until they hatch. During mating the female deposits up to 250 eggs onto the "brood patch" on the underside of the male's tail. After about eight weeks, the brood hatches, but in nature only about 5 per cent of sea dragons survive to maturity (two years). A fully grown Leafy Sea Dragon grows to about 18 inches (45 cm). Leafy Sea Dragons are very interesting to watch-- the leafy appendages are not used for movement. The body of a sea dragon scarcely appears to move at all. Steering and turning is through movement of tiny, translucent fins along the sides of the head (pectoral fins, visible above) and propulsion derives from the dorsal fins (along the spine). Their movement is as though an invisible hand were helping, causing them to glide and tumble in peculiar but graceful patterns in slow-motion. This movement appears to mimic the swaying movements of the seaweed and kelp. Only close observation reveals movement of an eye or tiny fins.

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Steph Salt 18 Sep 2005

They are amazing creatures Vicki, and what a wonderful photo of one. They are a form of Sea horse or pipefish I think? :)

stephanie atlee 18 Sep 2005

That is one incredible form of life..i never knew there were sea dragons...wow.

Tabitha Borges 18 Sep 2005

wow.. Great find..

Les Jobes 17 Sep 2005

What an INCREDIBLE photograph!! I have never seen or heard of a Sea Dragon before.. this is very exciting! What a wild looking creature it is, and such beauty and grace... Excellent entry!! :o)

Reba McDonald 17 Sep 2005

A real one!! A truly amazing creature.