Say hello to the zoo’s newest hatchlings!
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium successfully hatched 26 weedy sea dragon babies, according to a Facebook post from the zoo. It’s the first such hatching in the organization’s history.
The Columbus Zoo is now on the short list of facilities to have successfully bred this fish. The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California was the first to do so . Aquariums in Tennessee and Australia have also bred them.
According to the zoo’s Facebook post, the sea dragons were produced between June 24 and July 4 under the care of the Shores & Aquarium team.
What are weedy sea dragons?
Weedy sea dragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus), or common sea dragons, are a marine fish related to seahorses. They have small, leaf-like limbs that resemble kelp or seaweed making it easy to camouflage and can reach about 18 inches in length.
These Australian natives are considered vulnerable due to warming oceans and destructive fishing practices. They are also notoriously difficult breeders.