Ohio Aquarium Celebrates Father's Day With Four Pregnant Male Dragons
Weedy seadragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) are part of the order Syngnathiformes, an evolutionary ... More branch that also contains all living seahorse species.
Celebrated for well over a century in the United States, Father's Day seeks to honor the countless sacrifices and unwavering devotion seen from parents all across the country—and this year, it's not just humans that are joining in on the celebration. In Ohio's largest city, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has extra cause to celebrate thanks to four male weedy seadragons, each one bearing a huge bundle of eggs tucked along their tails. Though perhaps not the most conventional Father's Day participants, these fascinating fish mark a milestone in marine wildlife conservation, with no other public aquarium on the planet hosting four egg-bearing male dragons at the same time until now.
In spite of their fearsome name, the weedy seadragon measures in at just about 18 inches, and it also comes equipped with colorful, streamer-like growths along the body to mimic seaweed as a form of camouflage—but perhaps the most fascinating aspect of these pint-sized fish is their method of reproduction. After a mating session, female weedy sea dragons deposit fertilized eggs onto a specialized patch on the side of the male's tail, leaving their mate with the responsibility of caring for their brood until they hatch roughly six to eight weeks later.
While male seahorses use a brood pouch to store their eggs, male seadragons instead use a brood ... More patch.
While the egg-bearing dragons are certainly a sight to behold, this occasion also doubles as a breakthrough for ocean conservation. Weedy seadragons have a reputation for being particularly difficult to breed in captivity—and while esteemed institutions like the New England Aquarium and SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium have had success in the past, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is the first to record four egg-carrying males all at the same time. So far, the program has been a resounding success, with many of the early hatchlings moved to a separate facility for the next year until they reach maturity. Over the next few months, the fry will gorge themselves on thousands of tiny crustaceans each week, while the institution's Animal Care team will be hard at work to ensure that as many as possible can reach full maturity.
Father's Day visitors can marvel at these eye-catching syngnathids to their hearts' content, but of course, there's far more to see at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium than just dragons. During a visit to the Congo Expedition exhibit, patrons can spot tropical rainforest-dwelling creatures like the okapi and western lowland gorilla, while the Asia Quest zone draws crowds in droves thanks to residents like the Asian elephant, Amur tiger and Pallas' cat. And while charismatic megafauna can be encountered in abundance across zoo limits, the institution also works closely with less-recognized animals like the hellbender, black-and-white ruffed lemur and leatherback sea turtle, each one subject to ambitious conservation programs that seek to ensure the future survival of each species.
The weedy seadragon is endemic to the waters of southern Australia.
While Father's Day tends to focus on the human side of society, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is highlighting the tenacity of the entire animal kingdom this year, with four expectant fathers flourishing within the institution. Though often considered difficult to breed in captivity, this collection of four egg-bearing males acts as a beacon of hope for the future of marine wildlife conservation, ultimately highlighting the need for exemplary zoos and aquariums to support the battle for preserving global biodiversity.
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