Marine Life & Conservation

The Weird and Wonderful Sea Dragon

Published

11 years ago

August 5, 2013

Weedy Sea dragons are some of the most impressive camouflaged creatures on the planet. Adorned with leaf-shaped appendages over their entire bodies, they are perfectly decorated to blend in with the seaweed and kelp formations they live amongst.

Weedy sea dragons are one of only two species of sea dragons; the second is known as the leafy sea dragon. Sea dragons very much resemble seahorses with a bony body and long snout. One of the only features that sets sea dragons apart from their seahorse cousins is the tail does not curl under and cannot be used for gripping like a seahorse.

Leafy sea dragons are commonly brown to yellow in body color with spectacular green appendages to blend in with sea weed. Weedy sea dragons are a reddish color, with yellow and purple markings; they have small leaf-like appendages that provide camouflage and a number of short spines for protection.

Weedy sea dragons are very slow and rely on their camouflage as protection against predators. They have small, transparent dorsal and pectoral fins that steer them through the water as they drift in the water resembling the swaying seaweed of their habitat.

Illustration from children´s picture book series “Fins and Tales” by Jessica Shilling: Amazon-FinsandTales

Inhabiting coastal waters along the south coast from the Abrolhos Islands in Western Australia to Port Stephens, New South Wales, sea dragons are commonly found near rocky reefs, seaweed beds, and any structure that looks like seaweed.

Leafies grow to a length of about 14 inches, while the slightly larger Weedies can grow up to 18 inches long. Sea dragon males are the sex that cares for the developing eggs. Females lay around 120 eggs onto the underside of the males tail. The eggs are fertilized and carried by the male for around a month, before the hatchlings emerge.

Sea dragons are frequently taken by divers wanting to keep them as pets. In fact, such takings have diminished their numbers critically, forcing the Australian government to place a complete protection on both species. Pollution and destruction of habitat has also hurt their numbers, and they are currently listed as near threatened.

A database of sea dragon sightings, known as ‘Dragon Search’, has been established with support from the Marine and Coastal Community Network, Threatened Species Network and the Australian Marine Conservation Society, which encourages divers to report sightings.

Marine Life & Conservation

Shark Trust launches Oceanic 31 Shark Art Auction

Published

2 weeks ago

November 1, 2024

Shark Trust

After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7^th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.

People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:

https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction

It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.

: Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter

: Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs

: Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead

: Oceanic Whitetip by ATM

: Silky Street by ScapaJoe

The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.

One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29^th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.

Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:

https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24

Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26^th November until the 7^th December. Entry is free.

Find out more here:

https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31

Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”

Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction

Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden

Marine Life & Conservation

Meet Steve Backshall in the Bite-Back Prize Draw

Published

4 weeks ago

October 21, 2024

Team Scubaverse

Until 28 November, prizes worth a massive £10,000 – including experiences, products and tuition – feature in a line-up of items that can be won for £5 in an online prize draw to celebrate Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation’s 20^th anniversary and help generate crucial funds for the future.

Top of the list of prizes is the chance to spend time with adventurer and wildlife expert Steve Backshall, a workout session with Nat Geo star Aldo Kane, a kayaking trip alongside white-water expert and diver Sal Montgomery and a Zoom call with ‘shark whisperer’ Cristina Zenato.

On top of that, some of the most admired companies in the diving and scuba industry have been quick to support the charity with fabulous prizes that make the £5 ticket price worth more than just a flutter.

Master Liveaboards, BSAC, Midlands Diving Chamber, Go Freediving and Blue Shark Snorkel have all generously donated experience prizes, while celebrated photographer Alex Mustard has donated a print and artists Scott Gleed and Olivier Leger have donated a sculpture and illustration to help boost the fundraising pot.

Fourth Element has donated Ocean Positive gear and LA watch company Nodus has gifted the charity a stunning dive watch. For land lovers, the charity has included a five star London hotel stay at Bankside Hotel plus a family visit to Longleat Safari Park in the roster of prizes.

Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with support from companies and individuals that we truly admire and who have supported us on our 20 year journey and we’re truly grateful to them all. While we feel incredibly proud of our achievements over the past two decades – and we are super excited about the next chapter – this prize draw isn’t a vanity project. It represents a real lifeline to our work and important advancements in the global protection of sharks. So we hope divers, dive clubs and even bargain hunters grab some tickets to make this a massive success.”

The charity hopes that the prize draw will generate crucial funds to launch a brand new, ground-breaking, campaign to enrol the public and increase support for the protection of sharks around the world.

To enter the competition visit www.bite-back.com/prizedraw. The prize winners will be announced on 1 December 2024.