The lobes of skin that grow on the leafy seadragon provide camouflage, giving it the appearance of seaweed.

It can also change colour to blend in, but this ability depends on the seadragon's diet, age, location, and stress level.

[9] The leafy seadragon is found only in southern Australian waters, from Wilson’s Promontory in Victoria at the eastern end of its range, westward to Jurien Bay, 220 km (140 mi) north of Perth in Western Australia.

[1][10] Individuals were once thought to have very restricted ranges; but further research has discovered that seadragons actually travel several hundred metres from their habitual locations, returning to the same spot using a strong sense of direction.

They are mostly found over sand patches in waters up to 50 m (160 ft) deep, around kelp-covered rocks and clumps of sea grass.

[3] They are commonly sighted by scuba divers near Adelaide in South Australia, especially at Rapid Bay, Edithburgh, and Victor Harbor.

[13] The species feeds by sucking up small crustaceans, such as amphipods and mysid shrimp, plankton, and larval fish through its long, pipe-like snout.

The female produces up to 250 bright pink eggs, then deposits them onto the male's tail with her ovipositor, a long tube.

The eggs turn a ripe purple or orange over this period, after which the male pumps his tail until the young emerge, a process which takes place over 24–48 hours.

Once born, the young seadragon is completely independent, eating small zooplankton until large enough to hunt mysids.

Despite this initial nutrition source, the majority of fry will instinctively learn to hunt and catch prey upon hatching, and will become self-reliant before the sac is gone.

Success in keeping them has been largely confined to the public aquarium sector, due to funding and knowledge that would not be available to the average enthusiast.

[41] In 2006, an animated short film, The Amazing Adventures of Gavin, a Leafy Seadragon, was made on behalf of several South Australian organisations involved in conserving the marine environment, including the Coast Protection Board, the Department of Environment and Heritage and the Marine Discovery Centre.

[42][43][44] Made through a collaboration of The People's Republic of Animation, Waterline Productions and the SA Film Corporation,[45] the film is an introductory guide to marine conservation and the marine bioregions of South Australia suitable for 8–12 year olds,[46] and copies were distributed on DVD to all primary schools in the State.