Home · Callionymidae · Seychelles dragonet
Seychelles dragonet (Synchiropus sechellensis) — Callionymidae

Seychelles dragonet

Synchiropus sechellensis
Family: Callionymidae

The Seychelles dragonet (Synchiropus sechellensis) is a saltwater fish of the family Callionymidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
3.8 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
34.0–68.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: Maldives, New Caledonia, Seychelles, Somalia

Want the complete picture on the Seychelles dragonet?

Get the app

Description

The Seychelles dragonet is a dragonet (Callionymidae) from coastal water of the western Indian Ocean. The species grows to about 10 cm and 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 Seychelles dragonet?

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

Where does the Seychelles dragonet live?

The Seychelles dragonet lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Africa: Maldives, New Caledonia, Seychelles, Somalia

How big does the Seychelles dragonet get?

The Seychelles dragonet grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Seychelles dragonet dangerous to humans?

No, the Seychelles 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

Seychelles dragonet (Synchiropus sechellensis) — Callionymidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Julien Renoult, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Seychelles dragonet (Synchiropus sechellensis) — Callionymidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Adrien Lowenstein - Anaïs Berry, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Seychelles dragonet (Synchiropus sechellensis) — Callionymidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Lucas BERENGER, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Seychelles dragonet (Synchiropus sechellensis) — Callionymidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — jujurenoult (CC BY 4.0)

Easily confused with

These species look like the Seychelles dragonet and live in the same waters.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Seychelles dragonet?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Seychelles dragonet sourced
Scientific name
Synchiropus sechellensis
Family
Callionymidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
3.8 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)
34.0 verified
Max depth (m)
68.0 verified
Natural range
Africa: Maldives, New Caledonia, Seychelles, Somalia 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 Synchiropus

More from the family Callionymidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Seychelles dragonet?

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

Get the app →
Is this the Seychelles dragonet? Get the app