Marine Emblems

The Leafy Seadragon was adopted as South Australia’s marine emblem in 2001. Around 24 centimetres in length, this ethereal-looking fish is hard to spot, as it is camouflaged by the long, seaweed-like protrusions growing on its body. Leafy Seadragons have only been found in the temperate waters of southern Australia, from Wilson’s Promontory in Victoria to Jurien Bay Marine Park in Western Australia. They are often sighted in the sea near Adelaide, South Australia. They prefer kelp-covered rocky reefs and seagrass meadows in depths from around three to 50 metres. The Leafy Seadragon is one of only three seadragons endemic to Australian waters.  

In 1998, New South Wales became the first state to proclaim a marine emblem.  The vibrantly coloured Eastern Blue Groper is a species of wrasse. This inquisitive, friendly fish is well known to divers and grows to a metre in length and inhabits rocky reefs, river estuaries and seagrass beds from southern Queensland to southern Victoria.  Eastern Blue Gropers are hermaphrodites, beginning their lives as female and pinky-brown in colour. After becoming sexually mature, they transition to the male sex and take on their vivid blue colour.

The Barrier Reef Anemonefish was officially named as Queensland’s aquatic emblem in 2005. It lives among sea anemones in the northern region of the Great Barrier Reef to northern New South Wales. The stinging tentacles of the host protect it from predators and in return, the fish provides certain benefits to the anemones. This anemonefish species reaches around 12 centimetres in length and is distinguished by its orange colour, white tail, and two black-edged white bars, one each across the head and body.