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Rare Pregnancy At Georgia Aquarium: Sea Dragon Expecting

Weedy Sea Dragon An Endangered Creature

Posted: 12:44 pm EDT June 12, 2008Updated: 1:13 pm EDT June 12, 2008

It's going to be a busy Father's Day for a weedy sea dragon at the Georgia Aquarium.

For only the third time ever in a U.S. aquarium, one of the endangered creatures is pregnant. But don't look for the expectant mom in the tank -- the dads carry the eggs in this family.

The odd fish looks much like a Dr. Seuss character with a long aardvark-like snout, colorful sea horse body and multiple paddle-like fins. The common name of the Weedy Sea dragon (Phyllopteyx taeniolatus) refers to the leaf-like appendages on its body. The Australia natives, which live in kelp-covered rocky reefs around the southern coastline of Australia and feed on mysids and other small crustaceans, are only exhibited in about 50 aquariums worldwide.

The Weedy Seadragon's leaf-like flaps help camouflage it. It can reach up to 18 in (46 cm).

The sea dragon is a protected species in New South Wales and Tasmania.

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