Leafy Sea Dragon (Phycodurus eques)
HABITAT: The leaf sea dragon is found in temperate coastal waters along southern Australia, where seagrass beds and kelp forests create a living mosaic of shelter and feeding grounds. In these shallow to moderately deep locales the animals blend with drifting seaweed, using their slender, leaf‑like skin flaps to mimic underwater foliage and vanish against a swaying backdrop. They tend to stay within a relatively small home range, drifting with currents and relying on the structure of their habitat to stay concealed. The milieu they inhabit spans coastlines nearby the Great Australian Bight and adjacent shallow reefs, a setting that offers steady prey and safe spots to rest. The leaf dragon moves with a slow, buoyant grace, rarely covering long distances, and it benefits from calm water where its camouflage is most effective. Researchers observing these creatures note that the seagrass meadows and brown kelp beds provide both food and shelter, allowing individuals to remain in productive zones without wandering far (Australian Marine Institute). The species is best documented in areas where the water is clear enough to reveal the shimmering silhouette of the leaf-like lobes, yet murky enough to blur the body when viewed from a distance, a fact that makes them surprisingly elusive to casual observers. Over time, sightings have helped scientists map a distribution that concentrates around southern coasts and sheltered bays, underscoring how critical intact seagrass ecosystems are to their survival for shelter, juvenile development, and feeding opportunities (Regional Marine Observatory).