Dragon Seamoth - A closer look

The Dragon Seamoth (Eurypegasus draconis) is one of the weirdest things you can find on the reef!
Although they can swim for short distances they are crawling most of their lives slowly across the bottom.
The Dragon Seamoth is a diurnal species and can be spotted on sandy bottoms and amongst coral fragments. This means they are active during the day and sleep at night.
They are not easy to find because of their impressive camoufalge and their slow movement.
The Dragon Seamoth eats mostly eggs, plankton and crustaceans.
The mouth of the fish is located underneath and the long rostrum is used to burrow into seabed to get at prey which the Seamoth eats with an extendable, tube-like mouth.
Dragon Seamoths are broadcast spawners, eggs and sperm cells are released into the water column where they mix before drifting away.
These fish appear to be monogamous, pairing for life with a mate and moving around in pairs. Reef studies showed that more than 90% of the Seamoths live constantly together.
Astonishing is that the bony skin is renewed every few days which gives the opportunity to adopt the color of their bodies to different surroundings.
You may see some at the Mangrove Bay Housereef if you check the shallow bays from 3- 5m.
The fish find an ideal hiding place and plenty of prey among the coral rubble.
Ducks Dive CenterMangrove Bay , El Quesier , Egypt
Music:
"Homework" by David Feslyian , www.fesliyanst...
Great music , same song often in various speeds or instruments
"Spheres" Ronald Kah, www.Ronaldkah.de
Extras:
Painting by R. Winterbottom

[@00Hendrik00]

All fish from the Syngnathiformes order are so interesting to me. Also no matter if it's Seahorses, Trumpetfish or Seamoths - I feel like you can immediately tell that they're related by the way their eyes look! They all move them the same way

[@ardenharan2201]

What a strange and neat-looking animal.

[@ronschaefermd]

I saw one in Bohol Philippines

[@mafarmerga]

Are they found worldwide or just the Middle East?

[@bezuf]

they can be found in the indo-pacifi (indonesia, thailand, red sea...)

[@mafarmerga]

@@bezuf Thanks. I will be on the lookout for them when I am back diving in Indonesia!