| Dragons Down Under |
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Here be dragons! Not legendary dragons, but real live sea dragons from the other side of the world. Fabulous and rare, sea dragons are  fantasies come to life. Their domain is off the coast of Southern Australia, where cool kelp forests and colorful sponge gardens grow on rocky underwater cliffs.
All species are members or relatives of the "Syngnathidae" family - fish with bony plates surrounding their bodies and tube-snouted mouths. More importantly, these creatures represent a group of animals whose population is in severe decline. In fact, a special export permit is required in order to display sea dragons. The Florida Aquarium in one of only a handful of aquariums and zoos in the world to exhibit these unique and beautiful creatures.
Located in the Coral Reef Gallery across from the panoramic window, "Dragons Down Under" features both leafy and weedy sea dragons. Take a walkabout through this Australian-themed exhibit and learn the stories of sea dragons and their kin, including seahorses, trumpetfish and pipefish.
The exhibit also features Florida's dwarf seahorse. Only one inch tall when full-grown, these little creatures live in sea grass meadows. Florida native seahorses face several threats: destruction of their underwater habitats and collection for the pet trade and traditional medicines.
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