Photo of the day

Is it a plant? Is it a seahorse? No, it’s a leafy seadragon! Sometimes fondly called “leafies,” these marine fish belong to a charismatic species native to the southern Australian coastline. Leafy seadragons look a lot like seahorses but are in fact more closely related to pipefishes, though they may also represent the middle ground from an evolutionary standpoint. The leafy seadragon’s plant-like protrusions have a single, very important job to do: acting as camouflage, which is vital given that leafy seadragons are extremely poor swimmers. The species is a popular addition to public aquaria and its trade is tightly regulated. However, leafy seadragon populations face the more significant threat of accidental capture in fisheries targeting other species. Maintaining and restoring blue carbon habitats like the seagrass beds where leafy seadragons live is therefore critical not only for tackling the climate crisis through carbon absorption and storage, but also for protecting iconic wildlife.