Rare Weedy Seadragons Hatch At California Aquarium
"After years of trying, a Southern California aquarium has two very tiny — and very
rare — bundles of joy."
"Two weedy seadragons recently hatched at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, Calif. The delicate creatures resemble bits of seaweed and are distant cousins of the seahorse. And they're notoriously difficult to breed."
"Birch announced the news on Thursday and is now one of only a few aquariums worldwide to get the finicky animal to reproduce in captivity. Jennifer Nero Moffatt, the aquarium's senior director of animal care, science and conservation, called it a 'momentous occasion.'"
"'Seadragons are charismatic, sensitive, and require detailed husbandry,' Moffatt said in a statement. 'We have spent over 25 years working with these animals and love that we have made the next steps to conserve this delicate species.'"
"Birch Aquarium says it has bred 13 types of seahorses since 1995 and started its weedy seadragon program because of that track record of success."