KRM Branch 19th July 2021
For our July general meeting, our speaker was a KRMB Member, Michelle Mann, who shared a presentation on Leafy Seadragon plus some images from a recent trip to the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. The presentation on Leafy Seadragon (Phycodurus eques) was one she had prepared a few years ago for a course she was studying. It was illustrated by some photos that Michelle had taken while diving at Rapid Bay in South Australia.
The presentation began with the details of the biology of Leafy Seadragon, which is in fact a type of pipefish, roughly 25cm long, whose common name comes from their appearance. Its numerous leaf-like growths from the head and body enable it to be well camouflaged in their normal habitat of kelp and Sargassum. They are propelled by a translucent dorsal fin; the leafy growths do not play a part in propulsion. They may travel hundreds of metres from their normal home in search of food, but easily navigate their way back. Their habitat is the sea floor, amongst sea grass meadows, where they feed on Mysid shrimps. Their range is the coastline from southwest WA across to the southeast of Australia. Reproduction occurs with the female laying eggs that are then fertilized by the male who then holds the eggs on his abdomen until they hatch. The hatchlings feed off the yolk sac for the first few days and around 35% of the hatchlings will make it to adulthood.
Michelle finished off her presentation by saying that threats to Leafy Seadragon come from loss of suitable habitat plus through illegal poaching for the aquarium trade; leading to them being listed by the IUCN as Near Threatened and as a Matter of National Environmental Significance for the EPBC Act. Following the presentation, Michelle showed some photos taken on a recent trip across the Nullarbor to South Australia. These included a drone photo of the cliffs at the WA end of the Nullarbor and a photo of a Dingo at the Nullarbor Roadhouse. Then came a series from Kangaroo Island that included lichen on rocks at American River, sea lions at Kingscote, plus some of bird life. Then followed a series from Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges showing flora and landscapes, Apostlebirds, Emus, Bunyeroo Gorge, and finished with some lovely photos of Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies. Audience members thanked Michelle for her interesting presentation and photos.
Colin Prickett