Friday, 30 October 2009

Weedy Sea Dragon Courtship Dance

WeedyseadragonImage via Wikipedia

I've just watched an extract from a forthcoming episode of a BBC programme called 'Life' about the courtship of the Weedy Sea Dragon. These are fish which are related both to pipefish and seahorses which they quite strongly resemble. In the dusk of an Australian spring the male and female perform this courtship dance where their actions mimic each other. It is amazingly graceful and courtly. Afterwards it's the male who carries the eggs on his tail that the femail has transferred to him. It is then his job to look after the eggs until they hatch. The dance is really beautiful to watch so if you have the opportunity to do so I would advise you to take it.
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