The leafy seadragon or Glauert's seadragon, "Phycodurus eques", is a marine fish in the family Syngnathidae, which also includes the seahorses. It is the only member of the genus "Phycodurus".
Similar species: Pipefishes And Seahorses
By Emilia
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Uploaded Apr 22, 2014. Captured Apr 14, 2014 13:40.
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JungleDragon has exceeded 1,000 species of ray-finned fish! Ray-finned fish (Class Actinopterygii) compose half of all living vertebrates, and represent approximately 99% of the ~30,000 existing species of fish. They live in fresh and salt water environments, including mountain streams, swamps, ponds, icy polar waters, and the deep sea.
Ray-finned fish have some interesting features. Most extant (living) species have leptoid scales, which are lightweight and flexible. These scales increase fitness by allowing the fish to better evade predators and find food more efficiently. Ray-finned fish also have branchiostegal rays, which are long, curved bones that support the gills and increase the efficiency of pumping water across the gills. The feature that lends ray-finned fish their name is also one of their most unique. Unlike other groups of fish, ray-finned fish have fins that are webs of skin supported by bony spines (rays) rather than fleshy fins. These rays attach directly to their skeletons. The bony spines are deterrents against predators, who may not want to get impaled while eating their dinner. Furthermore, the location of the pelvic fins on ray-finned fish is high on their bodies, which increases their dexterity. Overall, these beautiful creatures have several adaptations that make them unique in the world of ichthyology. #JungleDragon
**A special thanks to Albert Kang, Marta Rubio Texeira, Zach Alley, and Danté Fenolio for giving us countless reasons to respect and be humbled by the beauty of fish. We have been inspired by their magnificence! Thank you for sharing your breathtaking photos on JungleDragon! Posted 6 years ago