A Multitude of Colorful Strange Creatures Wash Ashore on Australian Beaches After Record Rainfall
A plethora of bizarre, brightly colored creatures have washed up on beaches in Australia, leaving experts puzzled. Numerous images shared on social media depict the remains of marine fish with unusual shapes and vibrant colors.
Sea dragons, also known as leafy sea dragons or marine dragons.
Dozens of colorful marine fish have been found scattered across the northern beaches, including Cronulla, Malabar, and the Central Coast.
Most opinions suggest that these are stranded sea dragons. Sea dragons belong to the fish family and are commonly referred to as leafy sea dragons or marine dragons.
This occurrence, with numbers at least ten times higher than usual, has raised concerns about the abnormal situation happening in Australian waters.
Betty Ratcliffe, a beachgoer, reported that she stumbled upon about seven sea dragons within a week. “The first time I saw one on the beach, it had a strange shape and bright colors—orange, yellow, and purple. In the following days, I found more.”
It is noted that Betty Ratcliffe has been walking along Narrabeen Beach every morning at dawn for the past four years but had never encountered such a species before.
Stranded sea dragon.
David Booth, a marine biology professor at the University of Technology Sydney, stated that they have discovered over 20 sea dragons on Sydney’s beaches in the past two weeks. He remarked: “Clearly, this is the result of unexpected weather changes, marine pollution, and large waves bringing these strangely-shaped creatures ashore,” said David Booth.
According to experts, these small, resilient sea dragons typically do not stray more than 20-50 meters from their habitat throughout their lives. They often cling tightly to kelp in strong currents, with adults only moving 50-500 meters from where they were born.
However, this time, many marine creatures have traveled far from their usual habitats. This is a rare occurrence, indicating that they are likely losing their environments.
Sea dragons are a favorite among divers due to their eye-catching appearance, with yellow and purple hues, and can grow up to 45 cm in length. They inhabit coral reefs rich in kelp and are close relatives of seahorses.
