The leafy seadragon is the Australian fish known for long, leaf-like appendages that provide camouflage.
Its elaborate appendages resemble drifting seaweed, helping it blend into kelp and seagrass habitats along southern Australia. The appendages are not used for propulsion; the fish moves with small, nearly transparent fins while its body sways with the water.
Leafy seadragons are related to seahorses and pipefishes. Like seahorses, they have a distinctive reproductive arrangement in which the male carries developing eggs. The female deposits eggs onto a specialised brood area beneath the male’s tail, where they remain until hatching.
Despite their dramatic appearance, leafy seadragons are slow swimmers and can be vulnerable to habitat damage, pollution, and accidental capture. They are protected in Australia, and several aquariums participate in research and conservation programs.