fishes text index | photo index
Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrate > fishes
Dragonets
Family Callionymidae
updated Sep 2020

Where seen? Divers are more familiar with colourful dragonets seen on the reefs. But different kinds are also seen on the intertidal. These small fishes are bottom dwellers and generally found on sand or mud near reefs. When resting, most are buried in the sand.

What are dragonets?
Dragonets belong to Family Callionymidae. According to FishBase: the family has 18 genera and 130 species. They are found mainly in the Indo-West Pacific.

Features: Those seen about 3-5cm, grows to about 10cm. These fishes are bottom-dwellers. Instead of scales, the body is covered in a tough skin and usually coated with mucous that has a bad taste and smell. So they are sometimes also called stinkfishes. The gill opening is just a small hole, usually on the upper side of the head, with a strong spine near it. Most of these fishes are well camouflaged but some species can be quite colourful. In many species the males and females appear different. The males usually have an enlarged first dorsal fin that is colourful with intricate patterns.

A tiny one about 1cm long.
Changi, Aug 12
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.

Downward pointing mouth.
Tanah Merah, Oct 09

Underside of a dead one.
Changi, Oct 09
Sometimes mistaken for flatheads (Family Platycephalidae). Here's more on how to tell apart fish with flat heads.

What do they eat? They pick off small animals from the surface with their pointed, downward facing mouth.

Human uses: Some colourful species (Synchiropus sp.) are popular in the live aquarium trade. Unfortunately, they do poorly in captivity as they are difficult to feed since they only eat tiny animals.

Some Dragonets on Singapore shores


Family Callionymidae recorded for Singapore
from Ng, H. H., 2012. The dragonets of Singapore (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Callionymidae).
+Other additions (Singapore Biodiversity Records, etc.)

  Family Callionymidae
 

Callionymus enneactis (Mosaic dragonet)
Callionymus erythraeus (Smallhead dragonet)
Callionymus hindsii
Callionymus melanotopterus
Callionymus sagitta


Dactylopus dactylopus (Fingered dragonet)
+Dactylopus kuiteri (Kuiter's dragonet)


Synchiropus lineolatus (Lined dragonet)


Links

References

  • Toh Chay Hoon & Kelvin K. P. Lim. Rediscovery of the lined dragonet in Singapore. 30 May 2018. Singapore Biodiversity Records 2018: 54 ISSN 2345-7597. National University of Singapore.
  • Kelvin K. P. Lim, Neo Mei Lin, Debby Ng & Toh Chay Hoon. 17 April 2014. New record of Kuiter's dragonet from Singapore. Singapore Biodiversity Records 2014: 103-104
  • Ng, H. H., 2012. The dragonets of Singapore (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Callionymidae). Nature in Singapore, 5: 27-38. [PDF, 1.55 MB]
  • Wee Y.C. and Peter K. L. Ng. 1994. A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment. 163pp.
  • Allen, Gerry, 2000. Marine Fishes of South-East Asia: A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Periplus Editions. 292 pp.
  • Kuiter, Rudie H. 2002. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia: A Comprehensive Reference for Divers & Fishermen New Holland Publishers. 434pp.
  • Lieske, Ewald and Robert Myers. 2001. Coral Reef Fishes of the World Periplus Editions. 400pp.
links | references | about | email Ria
Spot errors? Have a question? Want to share your sightings? email Ria I'll be glad to hear from you!
wildfactsheets website©ria tan 2008