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Horn dragonet (Callionymus curvicornis) — Callionymidae

Horn dragonet

Callionymus curvicornis
Family: Callionymidae

The Horn dragonet (Callionymus curvicornis) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Callionymidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20.4 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The horn dragonet is a dragonet (Callionymidae) from the northwestern Pacific. The species has a flattened head and an elongate, sand-coloured, mottled body; males have a conspicuously curved spine on the gill cover, to which the name refers, and a high dorsal fin. It inhabits shallow sand bottoms of bays. On the bottom it snaps at small invertebrates that it sifts from the sediment. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Horn dragonet?

The Horn dragonet has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Horn dragonet live?

The Horn dragonet lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Horn dragonet get?

The Horn dragonet grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Horn dragonet dangerous to humans?

No, the Horn dragonet is harmless to humans.

Is the Horn dragonet edible?

The Horn dragonet is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kromhoorn-pitvis sourced
English name
Horn dragonet verified
Scientific name
Callionymus curvicornis
Family
Callionymidae
Other names
Richard's dragonet; Richardson's dragonet verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.4 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Callionymus

More from the family Callionymidae

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