Leafy Seadragons look like they have leaves protruding from their bodies, earning them their unique common name. They come in many shades, though mostly more neutral colors like greens, yellows, and tans. Seahorses are slow-moving fish related to seadragons and pipefishes. They have segmented body armor for protection and range from less than an inch to around 14 inches in size. Bearing an equestrian scientific name, the leafy seadragon is a bit different than other seahorses. They do have seahorse-like qualities, but they also look a bit like slow-swimming plants. Their bodies have “leaves” attached to them, which they use for camouflage. If you’re not careful, you might swim right past one in the wild and think it is seaweed. How do Seahorses symbolize contentment, you ask? The answer is pretty simple. They have not given in to evolution. As a result, the Common Seahorse, once plentiful, is now listed as a vulnerable species. Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti and others)

The females often have some yellow and dark spots on their bodies. Each common seahorse has a crown on its head, as unique as a human fingerprint. Their bodies are quite smooth compared to other species of seahorses. You’ll find them in coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific in tropical water between 72 and 77 F (22 to 25 C). Like all fish, seahorses breathe through gills. Gills are located near the top of their heads. When a seahorse breathes, special cells lining its throat expand and contract, pulling oxygen-rich water into its lungs. All have some similarities in their appearances, such as their elongated and fused snouts and rigid bodies. Male seadragons and pipefishes, like seahorses, carry the female's eggs. But instead of a pouch like seahorses, seadragons carry the eggs directly on the underside of their tails - in pipefishes it depends on the species. Earliest seahorse fossils The big-belly seahorse(hippocampus abdominalis)is the largest seahorse in the world and can grow to more than a foot in length. Not only are they the longest measured seahorse variety, but the big-belly is also a relatively proficient swimmer, unlike the rest of the entries on this list. Leafies are endemic to the ocean around Southern Australia, found only from Wilson’s Promontory in Victoria in the east, west to Jurien Bay, 140 miles (220 km) north of Perth in Western Australia. They inhabit temperate waters between 57 to 66 F (14 to 19 C), usually between 13 to 50 feet deep (4 to 15 m). Once you’ve spotted one, don’t worry about losing it — they move only about 1/8 of a mile (200 m) per hour. Weedy seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus)This bubble painting technique is very similar to my “how to paint bubbles”tutorial! You can look at that for reference (only it is a very small condensed version of this). A wild storm season from 2010 to 2013 left the Sydney seahorses' habitat in tatters, wiping out 90% of the population in the area. Several large storms shifted huge volumes of sand, smothering the soft corals, sponges and seagrass they call home. Muscles attached to chromatophores can push pigment cells toward, or pull pigment cells away from, the surface of a seahorse’s skin. When the pigment is close to the skin’s surface, the animal’s color is brighter and more brilliant. In turn, when the pigment draws away from the skin’s surface, the resulting color is less saturated and somewhat dull.

Then draw a large and stretched “S” that starts in the middle of the head and then stretches outwards to form the belly. Similar to a chameleon, seahorses are able to move each of their eyes independently and change their body coloration to match their environment. With such variety amongst the species, it’s helpful to organize them by attributes, like their maximum observed length. So, without further ado, let’s look at the top 10 largest seahorses in the world! 10. Short-snouted Seahorse and Barbour’s Seahorse (up to 15 cm, 5.9 inches) The pygmy seahorse lives in the Western Pacific offshore Indonesian islands and northern Australia at depths ranging from 16 to 40 meters. It prefers living near soft corals. The species is one of the smallest seahorses, measuring a maximum of just 2.4 cm. Pygmy seahorse has a unique appearance, with red bulbous tubercles across their body that allows them to seamlessly blend in with coral reefs and a short snout. Big-Belly Seahorse ( Hippocampus abdominalis) While not unheard of in captive-bred seahorses, the bright red and orange coloration is seen in some wild seahorses likely is from natural sunlight, diet, or other factors. Seeing too many Seahorses in your dream is symbolic of too much peer pressure. Such a dream is an indication that you are soon about to be nagged by the people around you into doing something you have no desire to do. A family of SeahorsesA seahorse uses its prehensile tail to anchor itself to seaweed before feeding on crustaceans found on the seabed or floating in the water. It uses camouflage to avoid being detected and waits for its prey to get close before striking. Where Do Seahorses Live? Next, paint a small “sparkle” on some of the bubbles. Paint little diagonal lines on the top edge. 8. Paint Seaweed A dwarf seahorse clings to an underwater leaf. It is recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records as being theslowest-moving fish, with a painful top speed of about 150 centimeters per hour. You can find seahorses in sea grass beds, coral reefs, and mangrove forests. They live between 45 degrees north and 45 degrees south latitude. How Big Are Seahorses? The loss of coral reefs and also seabeds that house seahorses have accelerated the decline of many species in recent decades. A study on the white seahorse found that significant habitat loss was the primary contributing factor to population declines.