SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is thrilled to announce it has a colony of rare Leafy sea dragons, which have recently gone on display to educate the public about this elusive and enchanting sea creature.
The incredible species of sea dragon resembles a floating piece of seaweed and is only found in the waters surrounding southern Australia, where they live close to the shore. Scientists consider Leafy sea dragons to be ‘near threatened’ with populations decreasing due to habitat loss from pollution and urban development.
“This is really exciting for us as we are one of few aquariums in the world with Leafy Sea Dragons on display. They are not far from becoming a threatened species, therefore it is important for us to learn as much as possible about this intriguing leaf-like sea creature. Our colony will act as ambassadors for their species, helping us educate the public on their important place in the ecosystem and how we can help protect them in the wild,” said Tereza Todd, Exhibit Manager at SEA LIFE Melbourne.
Not only are the Leafy sea dragons one of the rarest creatures at SEA LIFE Melbourne, they are also one of the most expensive to feed! It costs approximately $3,000 per month to feed the Leafy sea dragons their nutritious diet of high quality, sustainably sourced and locally sourced mysid shrimp and glass shrimp.
SEA LIFE Melbourne will share their findings about Leafy sea dragons with other facilities to help boost their populations and help educate members of the public about this creature that remains largely unknown.
Curious about this creature? Dive into SEA LIFE Melbourne for the rare chance to see the glorious Leafy sea dragons up close. For further information about SEA LIFE Melbourne or to book tickets, visit: www.sealifemelbourne.com.au
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