Home · Callionymidae · Dragonet
Dragonet (Callionymus japonicus) — Callionymidae

Dragonet

Callionymus japonicus
Family: Callionymidae
LC · Least Concern

The Dragonet (Callionymus japonicus) is a saltwater fish of the family Callionymidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
5.0–208.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Pacific; sandy muddy bottoms from shallow to deeper water.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Want the complete picture on the Dragonet?

Get the app

Description

The Japanese dragonet is a dragonet (Callionymidae) from the western Pacific. The species has a flattened head and an elongate, spotted body; males have a higher, colourful dorsal fin. It lives bottom-bound on sandy mud bottoms, from shallow to deeper water, and is rarely seen by divers. Probing the bottom, it snaps small invertebrates from the sediment. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Dragonet?

The Dragonet has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Flattened head; male with a tall colourful dorsal fin, bottom fish of sandy muddy bottoms.

Where does the Dragonet live?

The Dragonet lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Western Pacific; sandy muddy bottoms from shallow to deeper water.

How big does the Dragonet get?

The Dragonet grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Dragonet dangerous to humans?

No, the Dragonet is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Dragonet edible?

The Dragonet is rarely eaten.

More photos

Dragonet (Callionymus japonicus) — Callionymidae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Dragonet (Callionymus japonicus) — Callionymidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) craigjhowe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Dragonet?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Dragonet is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Dragonet verified
Scientific name
Callionymus japonicus
Family
Callionymidae
Other names
Japanese dragonet; Japanese longtail dragonet; Longtailed dragonet verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
208.0 verified
Natural range
Western Pacific; sandy muddy bottoms from shallow to deeper water. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small invertebrates from the sediment sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Flattened head; male with a tall colourful dorsal fin, bottom fish of sandy muddy bottoms. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Callionymus

More from the family Callionymidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Dragonet?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Dragonet is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Dragonet? Get the app