Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Syngnathiformes
(Pipefishes and seahorses) > Syngnathidae
(Pipefishes and seahorses) > Syngnathinae
Etymology: Phyllopteryx: Greek, phyhllon = leaf + Greek, pteryx = wing, fin (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 50 m (Ref. 9563). Temperate
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 30 - 32 cm
Max length : 46.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9563)
Eastern Indian Ocean: southern Australia, from southern Western Australia to New South Wales and Tasmania (Ref. 9563).
Recorded from the intertidal zone to a depth of 50 m (Ref. 9563). Frequently among seaweeds and coral reefs (Ref. 9137). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
Breeding behaviours and sexual dimorphism were observed in wild-caught weedy seadragons when the photoperiod exceeded 12.5 h daylength and water temperature exceeded 14?C; courtship behaviours typically lasted for 2-4 weeks before the time of breeding (Ref. 85751). Male carries the eggs in a brood pouch (Ref. 205). Gestation periods lasted from 30 to 38 days (Ref. 79764).
May, J.L. and J.G.H. Maxwell, 1986. Trawl fish from temperate waters of Australia. CSIRO Division of Fisheries Research, Tasmania. 492 p. (Ref. 9563)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 96402)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Threat to humans
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805
= 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref. 93245
Trophic Level (Ref. 69278
): 3.5 ±0.50 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref. 69278
): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref. 59153
): Low vulnerability (21 of 100) .