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Red Sea dragonet (Callionymus erythraeus) — Callionymidae

Red Sea dragonet

Callionymus erythraeus
Family: Callionymidae

The Red Sea dragonet (Callionymus erythraeus) is a saltwater fish of the family Callionymidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–10.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Bahrain, India, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and others

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Description

The Red Sea dragonet is a dragonet (Callionymidae) from coastal water of the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean. The species has a flattened, forward-tapering body with eyes on top of the head and a small mouth; males carry a high, finely marked first dorsal fin. As a bottom-dweller it lives on sand and mud bottoms and picks small invertebrates from the sediment. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Red Sea dragonet?

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

Where does the Red Sea dragonet live?

The Red Sea dragonet lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Bahrain, India, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and others

How big does the Red Sea dragonet get?

The Red Sea dragonet grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Red Sea dragonet dangerous to humans?

No, the Red Sea 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

Red Sea dragonet (Callionymus erythraeus) — Callionymidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Jiayuan Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Red Sea dragonet (Callionymus erythraeus) — Callionymidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Nick Tobler (Cowturtle), some rights reserved (CC BY))
Red Sea dragonet (Callionymus erythraeus) — Callionymidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) budak, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Red Sea dragonet (Callionymus erythraeus) — Callionymidae — 5
Nick Tobler (Cowturtle) (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
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All data

Identification

English name
Red Sea dragonet sourced
Scientific name
Callionymus erythraeus
Family
Callionymidae
Other names
Smallhead dragonet verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
10.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Bahrain, India, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia 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

Same genus Callionymus

More from the family Callionymidae

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