And a virtuoso of underwater disguise - a leafy sea dragon. He attracts attention by the fact that his whole body is covered with "leaves" that help him hide from enemies and lie in wait for his prey in underwater thickets.

The leafy sea dragon is a marine fish and a close relative of the seahorse.

You can meet this wonderful animal only in warm waters western and southern coasts of Australia. They live in shallow water, so they often play hide and seek with curious divers. It is understandable. Seeing such beauty, everyone will want to have such a living fairy-tale character.

The appearance of sea dragons corresponds to their name. This fish is completely overgrown with "leaves". The fact is that their entire body is covered with unusual processes that look so much like algae. But when swimming, they do not help a bit. "Leaves" are needed only for disguise.

The sea dragon moves slowly, only 150 meters per hour. Such slowness is due to the fact that the dragon swims only with the help of the pectoral and dorsal fins, which are completely transparent. Yes, and they sway once a minute. This provides the animal with the effect of smooth swaying on the waves. Therefore, from a distance, it is very similar to a torn branch of algae.

Despite its size and harmless appearance, leafy sea dragon is a predator. His diet includes shrimp and small fish, which the toothless dragon simply sucks. On the "lack of fish" he can eat algae and various marine debris.

Mating dance between male and female

Everyone knows that male seahorses are caring fathers and carry fry in their pouch. Male sea dragons were a little less fortunate. They don't have bags. Therefore, they place fertilized eggs in a special place under their tail.

After 4-8 weeks, little dragons are born, which are an exact, but miniature, copy of their parents. Immediately after birth, the fry are left to themselves. Until they grow up, they feed on plankton.

As already mentioned, the leafy sea dragon is a master of disguise. In this, he is helped not only by his appearance, but also by the ability to change his color. It depends on the surrounding plant world, food consumed and even stress! What an impressive creation. You can learn more about the disguise and life of a dragon in the next video.

Unlike seahorses, dragons cannot cling to seaweed with their tails, so they often die during storms due to being washed ashore.

Pegasus- This is a winged horse with white, black, brown or golden hair. In ancient Greek mythology, he is the favorite of the Muses - patrons of the arts and sciences. He was born, a creature with a woman's face and snakes instead of curls, from Poseidon, the god of the seas. Since the horse was born at the source of the Ocean, he received the name Pegasus, which is translated from Greek as "stormy stream."

Pegasus was born at the moment when the hero-savior Perseus cut off the head of the Gorgon Medusa. According to one version, the winged horse jumped out of the mother's body along with the warrior Chrysaor, his brother. According to another version, the blood of the Gorgon Medusa, which fell to the ground, gave birth to a horse.

In order to take off, the winged horse had to first scatter along the ground. He flew as fast as the wind, lived in the mountains and ate fresh fruits and berries and herbs. The mythical enemies of Pegasus were hippogriffs, hybrids of a horse and a bird, as well as animals with a lion's body and an eagle's head.

Pegasus had the miraculous ability to knock out springs by hitting the ground with his hoof. One day, the singing of the Muses grew the mountain to the very sky. The Muses were in danger, but the magic horse saved them: rising even higher, he lowered the top of the mountain to the initial height, hitting it with his hooves. And so the source of Hippocrene appeared near the grove of Muses, also called the Key of the Horse, with very tasty dark blue violet water. The Muses bathed in the Key of the Horse, people of art drew creative forces from it. The expression "to ride Pegasus" for the poet means to find inspiration.

Many heroes of Greece wished to have a graceful and fast horse that could fly. Hunters tracked Pegasus night and day, hoping to catch him. The most patient sometimes had the good fortune to see a ghostly horse, which endowed them with miraculous power. And only a few of them were lucky enough to approach the horse so much that it was hardly possible to stroke his extraordinary beauty of the mane. But not a single hunter could catch this creature. It was worth reaching out to him with a hand, and the incredulous Pegasus spread its wings and rose to the sky.

However, the hero Bellerophon became the master of Pegasus. According to one version, he tamed the horse during a watering hole with the help of a golden bridle, according to another, he received it as a gift from his father Poseidon. Thanks to Pegasus, Bellerophon performed many feats. Once he wanted to fly to heaven on a winged horse, but he did not succeed. According to one version, as a punishment for Bellerophon's arrogance, Zeus, the god of lightning, thunder and sky, sent a poisonous fly to Pegasus, which bit him in the tail. The horse went berserk from the pain and threw the arrogant rider down. According to another story, Bellerophon, sitting on Pegasus, looked at the ground, got scared and fell. The winged horse flew up to the sky itself. There he settled permanently and began to deliver Zeus to the sacred place of residence of the gods, lightning and thunder from their creator Hephaestus, the god of fire. And to this day, the winged horse lives in the sky, everyone can watch it every night in clear weather in the form of the constellation Pegasus. However, he no longer has wings.

Pegasus is a symbol of good forces, spiritual growth, eloquence, glory, contemplation, the interconnection of all living things. His statues were in the policy of Corinth (now it is a Greek city). The symbol of Chrysostom is a winged horse, it is depicted on the main symbolic attributes of the city.

Sea Pegasus

The mythical sea Pegasus is different in that it has a fish tail instead of hind hooves and a tail. Sea Pegasus was often called upon by Poseidon when he called forth storms. According to Celtic mythology, sea Pegasi pulled the chariot of Manannan Mac Lir, the lord of the sea, across the sea.

I wonder if there is such an animal - a leafy sea dragon? Yes, there really is such a thing. This is a fish, although a very unusual species.

Who is he?

It belongs to a family that in themselves look exotic. They call it differently. A leafy dragon, a rag-picker, a sea pegasus - it's all about him. An interesting creature grows in length only 25-35 centimeters. Outwardly, it really resembles a dragon. A curved body, an elongated "muzzle", thin processes all over the body, on which flat, algae-like fins grow. And he needs them only for disguise. The dragon moves only with the help of two of them: chest and dorsal. But thanks to the fins, it can reach speeds of up to 150 m / h.

defenseless creature

The leafy sea dragon is able to change the color of its fins depending on the food. But also the color changes at the moment of danger and helps to disguise itself as the nearest plant. The leafy sea dragon is a harmless fish. The dragon does not know how to defend itself, because it has no teeth. The only thing that the fish can do is take on the color of the algae in which it hides. How deciduous eats It turns out that he simply sucks food. These are mainly small fish and shrimp. But sometimes algae or even foreign small objects get into his mouth.

Good dad

The leafy sea dragon reproduces by laying eggs. Interestingly, males take care of the offspring. As you know, in seahorses, fathers hatch eggs in special bags. But the leafy sea dragon, the photo of which is presented in this article, does not have such a device. Therefore, he wears eggs fixed at the bottom of the tail. The fry appear after 9 weeks. In just one time, the female can lay 250 eggs. During the gestation of eggs, a pair of sea dragons do not forget about courtship. In the mornings, they always swim up to each other and perform a pair dance, during which they change skin color. Eyewitnesses say that it looks very romantic. Newborn dragons have a transparent body with a bluish tint. You can also see black and white stripes on their skin. Leafy dragons are considered adults when they have reached the age of two, although only 5% of the hatched fry survive to this age. Babies feed on plankton two hours after entering the water.

Mystery of nature

The leafy sea dragon is an interesting creature. He lives only off the southern coast of Australia. Its favorite habitat is the thickets of sea kale. This type of cabbage can be found in the eastern part indian ocean. But only in the Pacific Ocean live leafy sea dragons. It is very rare to see these Even the locals of Australia consider them almost mythical creatures. Often, after the ascent, scuba divers claim that no sea dragon exists, because they did not manage to see it. But this, of course, is not the case. It's just that the leafy sea dragon is so well camouflaged that not everyone can see it. To see it under water, you need to look at the algae for a long time, frozen, until one of the dragons stops feeling the danger and starts to move. Then a miracle will happen: the plant will turn into a fish in front of astonished spectators.

rare creature

The leafy sea dragon has a brother, the weedy sea dragon. It is so called because its appearance resembles bottom debris. Although the structure of the body and the presence of processes is very similar to a leafy dragon. Only the junk has much fewer leaf-like fins. Leafy sea dragons die very often. Both people and nature itself, which created them very tender and vulnerable, are to blame for this. Dragons do not have enough strength in their tails to cling to them. Therefore, during a storm they are carried away and thrown ashore. In addition, people often capture sea dragons to keep in their collections or to sell to alternative medicine advocates. Sea dragon fry are not yet able to disguise themselves as well as adults, and they don’t really know how to swim, so they often die from predator attacks.

These fish are very beautiful and interesting creatures. Many would like to have them in their aquariums if it were possible. From our article, you learned who the leafy sea dragon is. A report on this topic will embellish the presentation of any naturalist.

(). But the small one (deciduous, rag-picker) is a subspecies and belongs to seahorses. These two large subcategories of draconian representatives differ in almost everything: from appearance to lifestyle features. Although common feature there is also - all these fish are.

Video: Dragon fish

In total, 9 main types are distinguished among dragons. What is most interesting, however, is that even in modern world this list is replenished with new species. The body length of the fish varies from 15 to 55 cm. It all depends on which type of dragon it belongs to.

The fish lead predominantly. Large dragons are distinguished by the fact that they are classified as poisonous fish. By themselves, the glands on the body are absent and the poison is present only on the thorns. It is believed that it is not fatal to humans. But it can provoke severe allergic reactions and disturbances in the work of the heart.

Many sources provide information that these are one of the very first fish that appeared on our planet. By the way, it is interesting that small dragons are among the most existing in nature, while a large dragon often frightens with its appearance, although it reminds someone of the most ordinary bull.

Appearance and features

The grass dragon is considered the largest among the representatives of the genus - it can reach a length of half a meter. It is also considered the largest among the subtypes of seahorses. Basic hallmark is precisely a bizarre decoration of the body.

The leafy sea dragon is in many ways similar to the classic seahorse, the rag-picker has a less remarkable color. Because of this, when it drifts in the water column, it is often confused with common algae. A thin snout, a flattened head and an elongated body - this is what distinguishes a small sea dragon from the crowd.

Throughout the body there are bizarre outgrowths that have a thin base and gradually expand like blades. They are designed solely to protect the fish from enemies, otherwise it has no chance - the speed of movement of small sea dragons does not exceed 150 m / h.

The color of the small dragon is very diverse. Yellow and pink prevail here, on top of which there are pearl dots. Narrow blue stripes, arranged vertically, adorn the front of the fish's body.

The big dragon is not so attractive in appearance, but no less remarkable. On his head you can see a black crown with spikes, and in the region of the gill arches - games. The head of this fish is large with a massive jaw, which is studded with small teeth. On the lower jaw is a long mustache. It is also noted that the dragon fish has very large and expressive eyes. Despite such aggressive behavior, the size of the fish is not too impressive - the body length reaches only 15-17 cm.

Interesting fact: Grassy sea dragon has a lot of processes on the body, which distinguish it from the total mass and make it look more like a fairy-tale creature than a fish. In fact, these processes do not actually perform any tasks - they are intended only for disguise.

Where does the dragon fish live?

Habitat and preferences in terms of water are directly dependent on which species of sea dragon is being considered. Deciduous and grass dragons, which are relatives of seahorses, prefer the waters of the South, West. The most comfortable for their habitat is water of moderate temperature closer to the shore.

The large sea dragon is a much more common species in nature. It is found almost all over the world. The exception is the poles. The most favorite habitat for the dragon is sandy areas. That's why - just the perfect habitat for them. The dragon can feel great both in deep water and near the coast.

You can meet this kind of sea dragons in. But the most common sea dragons in. There they can be found at a depth of up to 1.5 km. If the fish makes trips to the deepest regions, then only short ones. The reason is that they need to hunt, and this can only be done in areas where you can hide and wait for prey.

For a dragon fish, this can only be done by burrowing into the sandy bottom. Conclusion: the dragon just needs to stay as close to the bottom as possible. In addition, this can be done only in those areas where a large accumulation of potential prey also lives near the bottom. The dragon is exclusively a marine fish and therefore does not enter the mouth, so there is definitely nothing to fear there.

By the way, in the seas with too much increased level salt in the water of the slave also feels uncomfortable. The most favorable for fish is the sea with moderate salinity and quite warm water. At the same time, the dragon can also adapt to the harsh climate. For example, in the Black Sea, the water can be quite cold in winter time- this does not prevent the big dragon from feeling quite normal there.

Now you know Where is the dragon fish. Let's see what she eats.

What does dragon fish eat?

Regardless of species, sea dragons are all predators, so they feed on other marine life. Crustaceans and small fish are the main prey of sea dragons. At the same time, a large dragon leads a more active lifestyle, so it is always easier for him to get food. Since it is sometimes difficult to catch a fish, crustaceans still form the basis of the diet of a large sea dragon. But plant food, unlike his herbal counterpart, he practically does not eat.

The small sea dragon has no teeth and therefore simply swallows its prey. Most often, this fish prefers shrimp, swallowing up to 3 thousand per day. He can also eat small fish, simply sucking food. In shallow water, a small dragon may also consume algae or pick up leftover food from the shore.

Interesting fact: Deaths have been reported from sea dragon venom. The cause of death is the development of heart failure. Pain shock is also dangerous.

Since dragons live in warm waters, there are usually no seasonal dietary restrictions. But for the inhabitants of cold waters, nature has provided for seasonal migration to a warmer water area. By the way, although a large dragon is much faster than a small one, he prefers to practically not pursue prey, but to take a waiting position at the bottom of the reservoir. Only in rare cases do dragons hunt in schools. They mostly prefer solitary hunting.

Features of character and lifestyle

The way of life and behavior of sea dragons differs depending on which species will be considered. All fish of this genus are predators, but there are still some special differences in behavior. For example, the main difference is precisely the hunt for other representatives sea ​​depths. The big dragon spends most of its time in search of prey, sitting in ambush and waiting for the next victim.

At the same time, the small sea dragon is absolutely harmless and does not pose any threat to humans and many other fish. Although he is also a predator, he still does not conduct such an active hunt. This is primarily due to the fact that plant foods may well be included in the diet. Large dragons prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle, while small ones tend to flock.

One thing unites these species - the desire to hide as much as possible. If large dragons prefer to burrow into the sand, then small ones simply hide in the algae. Grass dragons can blend with them so skillfully that they go unnoticed for a long time. When a dragon hunts, most often it simply burrows into the sand or mud. There he can only wait for his prey.

Unfortunately, because of this, the dragon can be dangerous not only for other marine life, but above all for humans. Even when you see a sea dragon, it is easy to confuse it with a simple goby. But most often the dragon is simply not noticed in the water. This threatens that you can simply step on it, in response to which the fish bites and injects poison.

Social structure and reproduction

Small sea dragons are simply amazing parents. They take care of their babies for a very long time. At the same time, males take the most active part in this. Unlike their counterparts (skates), small dragons do not have a bag in which they can safely bear eggs. Here, nature has provided a more complex system: fertilized eggs are securely fixed under the tail of the male with the help of a special fluid.

The female first lays about 120 bright red eggs, which are then fertilized. After fixing, their pairs actively communicate with each other, arranging mating dances, during which the fish approach each other and change color to a brighter one. When about 6-8 weeks have passed, small dragons will be born.

Outwardly, they are completely similar to their parents and there are no serious differences. Then they can live completely independently and reach puberty by 2 years. In rare cases (about 5%), fish continue to live with their parents.

The large sea dragon prefers to breed exclusively in shallow water. In the period May-November, the fish goes closer to the shore for spawning. At the same time, how close to the shore, directly depends on the species of fish. For example, the Black Sea dragon does not at all come closer at this time to those areas where the depth is 20 m. The large dragon lays its eggs in the sand. As a result, fry will appear from them.

Natural enemies of dragon fish

In nature, the enemies of sea dragons are large predatory fish. Moreover, it is actually much easier for a big dragon to protect itself, thanks to the thorn and poison. and others big fish most often they attack dragons, simply swallowing them along with other fish.

Occasionally, dragons can become the prey of animals that come close to the seashore. If you catch and then eat the fish correctly, you can easily feast on it, just taking it out of the sandy bottom.

Interesting fact: One of the main enemies of the sea dragon is man. Despite the fact that the fish is poisonous, its meat is very tasty. Therefore, if you properly cut the fish, you can enjoy it without harm to health.

The most susceptible to such danger are small sea dragons (relatives of skates). Often people can even unwittingly injure the fish, trying to stroke it or even pull it out of the water in order to examine it in more detail. That is why fishing is severely punished under Australian law.

Other inhabitants of the deep sea are dangerous to them for the reason that dragons swim very badly and slowly. Also, unlike the big dragon, they are not poisonous and do not have any weapons that can somehow protect them from the encroachments of other fish or humans. Only one thing can save a dragon from predatory fish - its specific color, which helps to easily hide and become inconspicuous.

Population and species status

It is very difficult to accurately estimate the population of sea dragons. It can be said about large dragons that there are a lot of them. In addition, the number is increasing significantly every year. But the same cannot be said about small ones. Their population is gradually declining.

However, it is not possible to accurately estimate their number due to high level conspiracies. For example, many divers complain that in 20-30 years they have never been able to see a small sea dragon, which is why they are already starting to consider it just a legend.

Also, some species have only recently been discovered and practically not studied. It should also be taken into account that different kinds Sea dragons inhabit the entire water area of ​​the World Ocean, so it is not possible to count them even very conditionally. That is, with regard to the large sea dragon, the status of a species for which there is no concern is quite applicable. But the small dragon is under threat.

There are a number of reasons for this:

• unfavorable living conditions;
• excessive popularity among people;
• lack of any protection from predators, except for conspiracy;
• slowness.

That is why the capture of small sea dragons is prohibited, in addition, they are actively protected at the state level.

Dragon fish guard

Some subspecies of this miracle fish are listed in. In particular, this applies to the leafy sea dragon. This is caused rather by the interest shown by aquarists, who, because of their attractive appearance, prefer to get fish in their private collections.

Against this background, this species of fish was actively caught. At the same time, at the moment, the need has disappeared, since it is quite possible to breed fish artificially, obtaining the necessary individuals for private collections. Increased protection is necessary for the species rather because of the lack of knowledge. Against this background, some types of dragons still remain unknown to the world. For example, most recently (in 2015) was opened the new kind- The Red Dragon, which is found off the coast of Australia.

Prior to that, he was practically not met at all, or was attributed to leafy dragons. This species is actively protected today due to the fact that the red dragon has become the object of desire for many collectors. If we talk about the big sea dragon, then there is nothing to fear at all. The population is not simply decreasing, but even increasing. According to approximate statistics, recently the population of the big dragon in the Black Sea has been increasing dramatically.

This trend is especially noticeable off the coast of Bulgaria. On average for last years the large dragon population has grown almost 5 times, which scares the fishermen. This is largely due to the general trend towards warming weather. Against this background, fish breed much more actively and live longer. That is why you certainly should not be afraid for the number of large dragons in nature. Although the meat of the sea dragon is very tasty, it is precisely because of the difficulty of catching this fish that this fish is not a very common object of fishing.

dragon fish- a diverse fish that may differ in appearance and lifestyle, depending on the species in question. The main thing when studying this fish is to be extremely careful and not for a second forget about its poisonous spikes. That is why it is important for vacationers to inspect the area where they are, so as not to fall into the trap of an evil dragon. Otherwise, you will need prompt medical attention.

In the waters of the southern coast of Australia, an amazing sea creature lives with the funny name of the rag-picker (lat. Phycodurus eques). This unusual fish is also known by other names, such as « leafy sea dragon», as well as the sea dragon of Glauert. All these names suit him perfectly, because his bizarre appearance resembles a shapeless bunch of algae or some kind of fabulous dragon.

Phycodurus eques - is the only representative of the genus Phycodurus, which is part of the subfamily of needlefish (lat. Syngnathidae), along with close relatives - seahorses.

These representatives of the Australian marine fauna prefer shallow water with moderate temperatures. Most often, they are found at a depth of 4 to - 30 meters, near accumulations of sea grass or rocky formations with rich vegetation. Whelps are very fond of dimly lit places, but at the same time with clean water. They try not to leave their "familiar places", but if they still have to go on a trip, they always return to their "native land".

»: appearance and lifestyle

Representatives of this species are interesting in that their head and body are covered with peculiar processes that imitate the thallus of algae. Resembling fins in shape, these processes are not related to movement under water, they serve only for camouflage, helping the rag-picker to hunt small crustaceans and for protection from a few enemies.

The color of the sea dragon can vary from yellow-green to yellow-brown. It can change not only depending on its age (as in some fish species), but also on the habitat, nature of food and the ecological situation in its habitat.

The baby dragon moves with the help of a pectoral fin, which is located on the crest of its neck, as well as a flexible dorsal fin, located at the tip of its tail. These small fins are almost completely transparent, it is difficult to see them, because they make “oscillatory” movements only 1 time per minute, thereby ensuring the monotonous swaying of the rag-picker in the water column, and perfectly creating the illusion of unremarkable floating algae.

Unlike their closest relatives, seahorses, which cling to sea grass and algae with their flexible tail during sea storms, dragons do not have this ability, which is why their mortality during periods of sea unrest is very high. Their "bodies" can often be seen washed ashore after a storm.

Dimensions « leafy sea dragon" of course, they are far from the size of a fairy-tale dragon, but it looks like a real Gulliver in comparison with a seahorse, reaching a size of 20 to 45 centimeters. Its diet consists of small crustaceans (shrimps), plankton, various types of algae. Sometimes he can eat floating debris. Due to the lack of teeth, the rag-picker swallows food whole, sucking it in with its tube-shaped mouth. With a good appetite, he can eat up to three thousand shrimp in one day.

"It is very slow, its maximum speed of movement is no more than one hundred and fifty meters per hour. Such a speed is extremely difficult to call even "turtle", sea turtles, in comparison with it, are real sprinters, they can develop speed 100-150 times faster. Therefore, due to its slowness, it is almost impossible for a rag-picker to get away from predators.

But, despite the fact that he is inactive, the dragon has learned to defend himself perfectly from his natural enemies. The greenish-yellowish leaf-like plumage of the fins helps this creature perfectly camouflage and makes it a kind of "chameleon" of the underwater world. He hides in sea plants and sways with him, without attracting any attention to himself.

»: reproduction and development

Male sea dragons do not have a brood pouch like seahorses. Female rag-pickers, as well as female seahorses, are able to lay up to 200-300 ruby-red eggs, which, after fertilization, are attached under the tail of the male in a special folded area rich in capillaries.

Interestingly, during the course of pregnancy, every morning, couples leafy sea dragons swim up to each other, and perform a kind of "dance of love." At the same time, they change their skin color to brighter and more saturated shades.

The very process of "hatching" dragons can take several days, and during all this time, the male swings his tail, thus helping the tiny juveniles to be born. After a certain time (from 4 to 8 weeks), little dragons are born - exact reduced copies of adults. And from that moment on, young individuals are completely left to their own devices. And only 5% of newborn rag-pickers will live to sexual maturity (two years of age). Newborns have a tiny length, only about 2 centimeters, in a year they grow up to twenty centimeters.

The fry, in the first few days, feed on the reserves of their yolk sac, but very soon they become independent and begin to hunt successfully. The diet of juveniles consists of tiny zooplankton, but as they mature, they switch to their favorite prey - delicious mysid crustaceans.

dangers

Unfortunately, leafy sea dragons – amazing sea ​​creatures, is threatened by a complete threat of destruction associated with the clogging of their habitat with industrial emissions. Divers also cause significant damage to the population, catching unusual "exhibits" for collectors and for resale as a popular means of alternative medicine, including as an aphrodisiac.

Due to these dangers, the species has been taken under protection by the Australian government.

See leafy sea dragons can be in large aquariums, where they are provided proper care and content, which require not only special knowledge, but considerable financial costs. These little-studied fish can live in captivity for up to seven years, but all attempts made to breed them in captivity, to date, have not been successful.