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Schaap's dragonet (Callionymus schaapii) — Callionymidae

Schaap's dragonet

Callionymus schaapii
Family: Callionymidae

The Schaap's dragonet (Callionymus schaapii) is a brackish-water fish of the family Callionymidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
6.5 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–8.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Schaap's dragonet is a dragonet (Callionymidae) from shallow sand and reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a flattened, scaleless body with a triangular head, high-set eyes and a small, protrusible mouth; males often carry a high, ornate first dorsal fin. As a bottom-dweller it creeps over sand and rubble and picks small crustaceans, worms and fish eggs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Schaap's dragonet?

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

Where does the Schaap's dragonet live?

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

How big does the Schaap's dragonet get?

The Schaap's dragonet grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Schaap's dragonet dangerous to humans?

No, the Schaap's dragonet is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Schaaps pitvis sourced
English name
Schaap's dragonet sourced
Scientific name
Callionymus schaapii
Family
Callionymidae
Other names
Short-snout sand-dragonet verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
8.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

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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