The Sea Dragon's Habitat

Sea dragons are rarely seen in the wild since they are so cleverly camouflaged. The leafy sea dragon has more leaf-like appendages covering its body than the weedy, or common sea dragon. Even so, both species look like floating seaweed in their natural habitat.

  1. Endemic to Australia

    • Unlike its more widely distributed cousin, the seahorse, the sea dragon can only be found in the temperate coastal waters of Australia.

    Weedy Sea Dragon Habitat

    • Weedy sea dragons live in shallow estuaries and deep offshore reefs of New South Wales, Australia. They are usually found in waters deeper than 33 feet.

    Habitat of Weedy Juveniles

    • Kelp and seagrass provide the ideal habitat for juvenile weedy sea dragons, which are reddish in color with yellow spots.

    Leafy Sea Dragon Habitat

    • The rocky reefs of Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia are protected habitats for the leafy sea dragon, according to Sea World.

    Dangers to Sea Dragons and Their Habitat

    • According to National Geographic, pollution and habitat loss threaten sea dragon populations. Sea dragons are sometimes taken by divers for their aquariums, posing another threat to the species.