Seahorses, Seadragons, Pipefish & Pipehorses

Seahorses, seadragons, pipefish and pipehorses (fishes with characteristics of both seahorses and seadragons) all make up the fish family Syngnathidae. The most unusual aspect of Syngnathidae biology has to be reproduction. Unique in the animal kingdom, male Syngnathidae

become pregnant. Eggs are transferred from the female to the male, where they are fertilised and brooded for up to six weeks.

Seadragons and seahorses can be found together but often seadragons live in deeper or more exposed locations. They are usually spotted on the edge of kelp beds where most of their food (mysid shrimp) is found.

Pipefish and pipehorses are found in sheltered seagrass areas.

Good places to see seadragons include Waubs Bay (Bicheno) and Waterfall Bay (Tasman Peninsula).