Original piece for Wild Art 2021

Watercolour and gouache on paper
180mm x 180mm, signed, unframed

Leafy sea dragons belong to the family Syngnathidae alongside seahorses and pipefish. The name is derived from Greek syn (together) and gnathos (jaw) which refers to the family-wide trait of having fused jaws. 

Leafy sea dragons can be found along the southern and western coasts of Australia, typically in sand patches surrounded by kelp and seagrass. They have evolved specifically to their environment by growing elaborate frilly lobes of skin to mimic the seaweed growing around them. While this camouflage is effective, they are poor swimmers as they can only use the fins along the side of their heads to steer and turn. The rest of their bodies are mostly rigid and limited in mobility. Unlike seahorses, sea dragons do not possess prehensile tails and cannot hold onto objects for stability.