Leafy Seadragon

Tumby Bay, on the eastern coast of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, is known for shallow temperate waters where leafy seadragons (Phycodurus eques) occur around seagrass, macroalgae, sandy patches, and jetty habitat. These elaborately camouflaged fish resemble drifting seaweed, using transparent dorsal and pectoral fins for propulsion while their leaf-like appendages help conceal them among marine vegetation. Leafy seadragons are endemic to southern Australia and are protected throughout their range. Tumby Bay is one of the documented South Australian locations where divers may encounter the species, although its camouflage can make even nearby individuals exceptionally difficult to detect.

Fun Fact: The leafy seadragon’s spectacular leaf-like appendages do not propel it through the water. It swims using tiny, nearly transparent fins, allowing the entire fish to resemble a piece of drifting seaweed.