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Arrow dragonet (Callionymus sagitta) — Callionymidae

Arrow dragonet

Callionymus sagitta
Family: Callionymidae
LC · Least Concern

The Arrow dragonet (Callionymus sagitta) is a brackish-water fish of the family Callionymidae that grows up to 11 cm.

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

Description

The arrow dragonet is a small dragonet from the Indo-West Pacific, from the Arabian Peninsula to the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. The species grows to about 11 cm and has a flattened body with a triangular, pointed head. As a bottom-dweller it lives along coasts, in estuaries and the lower courses of rivers, buried in sand and mud, and feeds on worms and plankton. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Arrow dragonet?

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

Where does the Arrow dragonet live?

The Arrow dragonet lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Arrow dragonet get?

The Arrow dragonet grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Arrow dragonet dangerous to humans?

No, the Arrow dragonet is harmless to humans.

Is the Arrow dragonet edible?

The Arrow dragonet is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Pijl-pitvis verified
English name
Arrow dragonet verified
Scientific name
Callionymus sagitta
Family
Callionymidae
Other names
Arrow dragonet; Arrow headed dragonet; Arrow-headed darter dragonet; Dragonet verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish 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
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. 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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