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Leafy dragonet (Anaora tentaculata) — Callionymidae

Leafy dragonet

Anaora tentaculata
Family: Callionymidae

The Leafy dragonet (Anaora tentaculata) is a saltwater fish of the family Callionymidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia, Guam, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is., Micronesia and others

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Description

The leafy dragonet is a small dragonet (Callionymidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a flattened, stocky body with numerous skin flaps and appendages, making it resemble a piece of weed or leaf. As a bottom-dweller it lives on sand, rubble and reef bottoms of shallow coastal water and picks small invertebrates from the sediment. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Leafy dragonet?

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

Where does the Leafy dragonet live?

The Leafy dragonet lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia, Guam, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is., Micronesia and others

How big does the Leafy dragonet get?

The Leafy dragonet grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Leafy dragonet dangerous to humans?

No, the Leafy dragonet is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Leafy dragonet (Anaora tentaculata) — Callionymidae — 2
? Kanagawa Prefectrual Museum of Natural History (Photo by Toshiyuki Suzuki) (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF
Leafy dragonet (Anaora tentaculata) — Callionymidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) yoline1984, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Leafy dragonet (Anaora tentaculata) — Callionymidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Xavier Rufray, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Leafy dragonet (Anaora tentaculata) — Callionymidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — John Edward Gray (1800-1875) (Public domain)
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All data

Identification

English name
Leafy dragonet sourced
Scientific name
Anaora tentaculata
Family
Callionymidae
Other names
Tentacled dragonet verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia, Guam, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is., Micronesia and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

More from the family Callionymidae

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