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Moon dragonet (Callionymus lunatus) — Callionymidae

Moon dragonet

Callionymus lunatus
Family: Callionymidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Moon dragonet (Callionymus lunatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Callionymidae that grows up to 19 cm.

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

Description

The moon dragonet is a dragonet from the northwest Pacific, off Japan, Korea and China. The species grows to about 19 cm and has a flattened body with a flat head, high-set eyes and a crescent-marked tail. On the gill cover it bears a strong spine. As a bottom-dweller it lives on sand and mud bottoms of coastal water and searches for small crustaceans and worms. The fish is harmless to humans and has no commercial value. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Moon dragonet?

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

Where does the Moon dragonet live?

The Moon dragonet lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Moon dragonet get?

The Moon dragonet grows to a maximum of about 19 cm.

Is the Moon dragonet dangerous to humans?

No, the Moon dragonet is harmless to humans.

Is the Moon dragonet edible?

The Moon dragonet is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Maan-pitvis verified
English name
Moon dragonet verified
Scientific name
Callionymus lunatus
Family
Callionymidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.7 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

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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