#sygnathids

A harlequin ghost pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) swims by a feather star off the coast of Alor, Indonesia

By Jessica Stewart on January 17, 2017 

While a ruby seadragon may sound like a mythical creature taken from the pages of a fairy tale, this incredibly rare animal was spotted in the deep waters of Western Australia for the first time. Recently, researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego and the Western Australian Museum observed two ruby seadragons for 30 minutes using a mini remotely-operated vehicle.

For an animal that was only previously known from museum specimens, it’s a breathtaking discovery.  New information about their anatomy, habitat, and behavior has come to light due to the sighting.

Ruby seadragons are related to the common seadragon and leafy seadragon, both found off the southern and western coasts of Australia. Just how does the ruby seadragon differ? For starters, it lacks the elaborate appendages that the more common seadragons use for camouflage. It’s a shocking change, as the animals are characterized by their beautiful camouflage.