''Phyllopteryx'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of small fishes, commonly called seadragons, in the family
Syngnathidae
The Syngnathidae is a family of fish which includes seahorses, pipefishes, and seadragons ('' Phycodurus'' and '' Phyllopteryx''). The name is derived from (), meaning "together", and (), meaning "jaw". The fused jaw is one of the traits that ...
that are found along the western and southern coasts of Australia. Since the 19th century, the weedy or
common seadragon
The common seadragon or weedy seadragon (''Phyllopteryx taeniolatus'') is a marine biology, marine fish of the order Syngnathiformes, which also includes the similar pipefishes, seahorses, and trumpetfishes among other species. Adult common sea ...
was the only known species, until the description of the
ruby seadragon
The ruby seadragon (''Phyllopteryx dewysea'') is a marine fish in the family Syngnathidae, which also includes seahorses. It inhabits the coast of Western Australia. The species was first described in 2015, making it only the third known specie ...
in 2015.
They are closely related to other members of the Syngnathidae such as the
leafy seadragon
The leafy seadragon (''Phycodurus eques'') or Glauert's seadragon, is a marine fish. It is the only member of the genus ''Phycodurus'' in the family Syngnathidae, which includes seadragons, pipefish, and seahorses.
It is found along the s ...
,
pipefish
Pipefishes or pipe-fishes (Syngnathinae) are a subfamily of small fishes, which, together with the seahorses and seadragons ('' Phycodurus'' and '' Phyllopteryx''), form the family Syngnathidae.
Description
Pipefish look like straight-bodied s ...
and
seahorse
A seahorse (also written ''sea-horse'' and ''sea horse'') is any of 46 species of small marine Osteichthyes, bony fish in the genus ''Hippocampus''. The genus name comes from the Ancient Greek (), itself from () meaning "horse" and () meanin ...
s, which all exhibit
male pregnancy
Male pregnancy is the incubation of one or more embryos or fetuses by organisms of the male sex in some species. Most species that reproduce by sexual reproduction are heterogamous—females producing larger gametes ( ova) and males producing s ...
.
Species
Two species are recognised:
*
Common seadragon
The common seadragon or weedy seadragon (''Phyllopteryx taeniolatus'') is a marine biology, marine fish of the order Syngnathiformes, which also includes the similar pipefishes, seahorses, and trumpetfishes among other species. Adult common sea ...
or weedy seadragon (''Phyllopteryx taeniolatus'')
( Lacepède, 1804)
*
Ruby seadragon
The ruby seadragon (''Phyllopteryx dewysea'') is a marine fish in the family Syngnathidae, which also includes seahorses. It inhabits the coast of Western Australia. The species was first described in 2015, making it only the third known specie ...
(''Phyllopteryx dewysea'')
Stiller, Wilson, & Rouse
Rouse may refer to:
Places
* Rouse, California, United States, a census-designated place
* Rouse, Wisconsin, United States, an unincorporated community
* Rouses Point, New York, United States, a village
* Rouse Islands, Antarctica
* Cape Rouse, A ...
, 2015
References
{{Authority control
Marine fish genera
Ray-finned fish genera
Endemic fauna of Australia
Taxa named by William Swainson