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Perciformes: Callionymoidei: Callionymidae 3549

Suborder CALLIONYMOIDEI

CALLIONYMIDAE
Dragonets
by R. Fricke

D iagnostic characters: Small to medium-sized (to 45 cm) fishes; body elongate, moderately de-
pressed. Body scaleless. Head usually broad and depressed. Eyes moderate to large, directed
dorsally. Upper jaw protrusible. Rows of very small, villiform teeth usually restricted to jaws. Preopercle
armed with a stout spine but opercle and subopercle spineless. Gill opening restricted to a small dorsal
or sublateral pore. Lateral line consisting of pores. Spinous and soft dorsal fins separate, consisting
of IV (rarely III or V) flexible spines and 7 to 10 segmented soft rays (last divided at base). Anal fin
spineless, with 6 to 10 soft rays (last divided at base). Pelvic fins jugular in position, widely separated
from each other, each with I spine and 5 soft rays. Colour: ranging from more or less uniform sand to
conspicuously marked with colourful stripes and spots; nearly all species sexually dichromic.

2 dorsal fins, the 1st with IV spines,

the 2nd with 12-14 soft rays

stout
preopercular
spine

head broad and

depressed body scaleless

gill opening
restricted to a pore
anal fin with 6-10 soft rays

Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Benthic, found on sandy or muddy substrates, among seagrass, or in coral
reefs. Dragonets live from intertidal pools and the surf zone to depths of about 800 m. They spawn in pairs,
usually at sunset, ascending into the water column about 0.7 to 1 m above the bottom. Eggs and larvae
pelagic. Many species are taken as bycatch in bottom trawls (e.g. prawn trawls), but a few species are
commercially used for production of fish meal, or are marketed fresh.

Similar families occurring in the area

Draconettidae: preopercle spineless, but 1 simple spine
present on both opercle and subopercle; gill opening not
reduced to a pore, but developed as a slit opposite to
pectoral-fin base; soft dorsal-fin rays 12 to 14 (7 to 10
in Callionymidae); lateral line consisting of a broad
channel.
Other superficially similar families: none has the follow-
ing combination of characters: naked body, widely
Draconettidae
separated pelvic fins, a stout preopercular spine, and
III to V flexible spines in the first dorsal fin.

Key to species of interest to fisheries occurring in the area

1a. Opercle with a free flap of skin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 2
1b. Opercle without a free flap of skin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 3
3550 Bony Fishes

2a. Body with lateral fold of skin below lateral line; interorbital distance less than 1/3 of eye
diameter (Fig. 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diplogrammus goramensis
2b. Body without lateral fold of skin below lateral line; interorbital distance more than eye
diameter (Fig. 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eleutherochir opercularis

lateral fold of skin

free flap
of skin

a) lateral view lateral fold of

skin absent
Fig. 1 Diplogrammus interorbital
broad

3a. Sides of body with a number of small

b) dorsal view of head
dermal cirri; a pair of cirri on dorsoposte-
rior edge of eye; a few small teeth on Fig. 2 Eleutherochir opercularis
jaws (Fig. 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . Anaora tentaculata
3b. Sides of body without small dermal cirri;
no cirri on the dorsoposterior edge of
eye; many small villiform teeth in bands
on jaws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 4
4a. Pelvic fins with 4 soft rays, plus 1 soft ray
elongate and separated from rest of fin
(Fig. 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dactylopus dactylopus
4b. Pelvic fins with 5 soft rays, the first soft
ray not elongate and not separated from
rest of fin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 5
overeye
cirri small cirri

1st pelvic-fin
ray separate
Fig. 4 Dactylopus dactylopus

Fig. 3 Anaora tentaculata

5a. Rays of second dorsal fin unbranched

except for the last, which is divided to its
base; gill opening dorsal in position;
snout equal to, or longer than, eye di-
ameter (Fig. 5) . . . . . . . . . . (Callionymus) ® 7
gill rays branched
5b. Rays of second dorsal fin branched (the opening
last divided to its base); gill opening sublateral
sublateral; snout shorter than eye di-
ameter (Fig. 6) . . . . . . . . . . (Synchiropus) ® 6
snout
gill opening
dorsal short

rays unbranched
Fig. 5 Callionymus Fig. 6 Synchiropus
Perciformes: Callionymoidei: Callionymidae 3551

6a. Preopercular spine with a dorsal point additionally to main tip, but without an antrorse
spine at its base; first dorsal fin not much higher than second dorsal fin; caudal fin in
males with 5 or 6 median filaments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Synchiropus calauropomus
6b. Preopercular spine with 4 to 11 small antrorse serrae on its dorsal margin and an
antrorse spine at its base; first dorsal fin at least twice as high as second dorsal fin;
caudal fin in males without filaments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Synchiropus rameus

7a. Dorsal margin of preopcerular spine with small antrorse serrae; main tip usually straight,
not upcurved (Fig. 7a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus (Calliurichthys) ® 8
7b. Dorsal margin of preopercular spine with large curved points; main tip usually upcurved
(Fig. 7b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus (Callionymus) ® 11

8a. Anal fin with 7 rays (the last divided to its base); base of first dorsal fin 0.8 to 0.9 times
in head length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus grossi
8b. Anal fin with 8 or 9 rays (the last divided to its base); base of first dorsal fin 1.4 to 1.9
times in head length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 9

9a. Anal fin with 8 rays (the last divided to its base) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus japonicus
9b. Anal fin with 9 rays (the last divided to its base) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 10

10a. Ventral margin of preopercular spine concave (Fig. 7c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus belcheri
10b. Ventral margin of preopercular spine convex (Fig. 7d) . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus filamentosus

small serrae large curved

main tip points main tip
straight upcurved

a) Callionymus b) Callionymus c) Callionymus concave d) Callionymus convex

(Calliurichthys) (Callionymus) belcheri filamentosus
Fig. 7 preopercular spine

11a. Preopercular spine with 1 dorsal point (additionally to main tip) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 12

11b. Preopercular spine with 2 or more dorsal points (additionally to main tip) . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 14

12a. First dorsal fin without filaments or 1st spine

with first spine filamentous only filamentous only or
without filaments
(Fig. 8a) . . . . . . Callionymus meridionalis
filaments
12b. First dorsal fin with first and sec-
ond spines filamentous, third and
fourth spines occasionally with
short filaments (Fig. 8b) . . . . . . . . . . ® 13

, -
a) Callionymus meridionalis b)

Fig. 8 first dorsal fin

3552 Bony Fishes

13a. Occipital region with 2 small bony ridges and a smaller median bony protuberance
covered by skin; no granular rugosities in occipital region; males without a black blotch
on third spine of first dorsal fin (Fig. 9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus sublaevis
13b. Occipital region without bony ridges or protuberances, but with numerous small granular
rugosities; males with a black spot on third spine of first dorsal fin (Fig. 10) . . Callionymus limiceps
occipital black spot
region with
bony ridges,
but no occipital region with
rugosities rugosites, but no
ridges

Fig. 9 Callionymus sublaevis Fig. 10 Callionymus limiceps

14a. First and second spine of first dorsal fin with filaments of equal length, at least 2 times
longer than first ray of second dorsal fin; third and fourth spines of first dorsal fin not
filamentous (Fig. 11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus sublaevis (female)
14b. First dorsal fin without filaments or only first spine filamentous (Fig. 12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 15
filaments no filaments 1 filament

ocellate
black spot

a) Callionymus russelli b) Callionymus russelli

(female) (male)
Fig. 11 Callionymus sublaevis Fig. 12 first dorsal fin
15a. Second dorsal fin with X spines (the last divided to its base) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 16
15b. Second dorsal fin with VII to IX spines (the last divided to its base) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 19

16a. First spine of first dorsal fin not filamentous (Fig. 12a) . . . . . . . . . Callionymus russelli (female)
16b. First spine of first dorsal fin filamentous (Fig. 12b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 17

17a. First dorsal fin with an ocellate black blotch (Fig. 12b) . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus russelli (male)
17b. First dorsal fin without an ocellate black blotch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 18

18a. First dorsal fin higher than second dorsal fin; first spine of first dorsal fin longer than
second spine; anal fin dusky; second dorsal fin with white bands (Fig. 13) . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus melanotopterus
18b. First dorsal fin lower than second dorsal fin; first spine of first dorsal fin shorter than
second spine; anal fin pale; second dorsal fin without white bands (Fig. 14) . Callionymus fluviatilis
first dorsal fin high white bands no white bands
first spine short

dusky pale

Fig. 13 Callionymus melanotopterus Fig. 14 Callionymus fluviatilis

Perciformes: Callionymoidei: Callionymidae 3553

19a. Preopercular spine with 2 dorsal tips (additionally to main tip) (Fig. 15a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 20
19b. Preopercular spine with 3 to 5 dorsal tips (additionally to main tip) (Fig. 15b) . . . . . . . . . . ® 27

20a. First dorsal fin with an ocellate black blotch (Fig. 12b) . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus russelli (male)
20b. First dorsal fin without an ocellate black blotch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 21

21a. First dorsal fin black or with large dark areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 22

21b. First dorsal fin translucent (occasionally with small dark spots) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 26

22a. First membrane of first dorsal fin translucent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 23

22b. First membrane of first dorsal fin (at least in large part) blackish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 25

23a. Caudal fin elongate, distally dark (Fig. 16) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus russelli (female)
23b. Caudal fin not elongate, distally light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 24
2 points dark margin
3-5 points

a) b) first dorsal fin

Fig. 16 Callionymus russelli
Fig. 15 preopercular spine (female)
24a. First and second spines of first dorsal fin with filaments (Fig. 17) . . Callionymus sublaevis (female)
24b. First dorsal fin without filaments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Callionymus sagitta

25a. First spine of first dorsal fin at least 1.5 times longer than first ray of second dorsal fin
(Fig. 18) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus meridionalis (female)
25b. First spine of first dorsal fin shorter than first ray of second dorsal fin . . . . . . .Callionymus sagitta
filaments
1st dorsal fin higher
than 2nd dorsal fin

Fig. 17 Callionymus sublaevis (female) Fig. 18 Callionymus meridionalis (female)

26a. Second and third spines of first dor-

sal fin filamentous (first and fourth filaments
s p i n e s m a y b e f i l am en to us )
(Fig. 19) . . . . . . Callionymus sublaevis (male)
26b. Second and third spines of first dor-
sal fin not filamentous (first spine
filamentous) . . . . . .Callionymus meridionalis

27a. Anal fin with 8 rays (the last divided

at its base) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 28
27b. Anal fin with 9 or 10 soft rays (the
last divided at its base) . . . . . . . . . . . ® 30 Fig. 19 Callionymus sublaevis (male)
3554 Bony Fishes

28a. First spine of first dorsal fin filamentous (Fig. 20) . . . . . . . . . . . . .Callionymus russelli (male)
28b. First spine of first dorsal fin not filamentous (Fig. 21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 29

filament
no filaments

Fig. 20 Callionymus russelli (male) Fig. 21 Callionymus sagitta

29a. First dorsal fin plain black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus sagitta

(northern Indonesia)
29b. First dorsal fin dusky, first membrane whitish . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Callionymus russelli (female)
(Australia and New Guinea)

30a. Second spine of first dorsal fin filamentous . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus octostigmatus (male)
30b. Second spine of first dorsal fin not filamentous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 31

31a. First spine of first dorsal fin filamentous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus russelli (male)
31b. First spine of first dorsal fin not filamentous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 32

32a. First dorsal fin pale or translucent, occasionally with blackish spots . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus octostigmatus (female)
32b. First dorsal fin black or with large blackish areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ® 33

33a. Caudal fin distally elongate, blackish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Callionymus russelli (female)

(Australia and New Guinea)
33b. Caudal fin not elongate, distally not blackish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Callionymus sagitta
(northern Indonesia)
List of species occurring in the area
The symbol 0 is given when species accounts are included.
Anaora tentaculata Gray, 1835
Callionymus acutirostris Fricke, 1981
Callionymus amboina Suwardji, 1965

0
Callionymus annulatus Weber, 1913
Callionymus belcheri Richardson, 1844
Callionymus bleekeri Fricke, 1983
Callionymus brevianalis Fricke, 1983
Callionymus colini Fricke, 1993
Callionymus delicatulus Smith, 1963
Callionymus doryssus (Jordan and Fowler, 1903)

0
Callionymus enneactis Bleeker, 1879

0
Callionymus filamentosus Valenciennes, 1837

0
Callionymus fluviatilis Day, 1875
Callionymus grossi Ogilby, 1910
Callionymus guentheri Fricke, 1981
Callionymus hainanensis Li, 1966
Callionymus hildae Fricke, 1981

0
Callionymus hindsi Richardson, 1844
Callionymus japonicus Houttuyn, 1782
Callionymus kaianus Günther, 1880
Callionymus keeleyi Fowler, 1941
Perciformes: Callionymoidei: Callionymidae 3555

0 Callionymus limiceps Ogilby, 1908

Callionymus leucobranchialis Fowler, 1941

Callionymus luridus Fricke, 1981

Callionymus macclesfieldensis Fricke, 1983

0
Callionymus macdonaldi Ogilby, 1911

0
Callionymus melanotopterus Bleeker, 1851
Callionymus meridionalis Suwardji, 1965
Callionymus moretonensis Johnson, 1971
Callionymus mortenseni Suwardji, 1965
Callionymus neptunius (Seale, 1910)

0
Callionymus obscurus Fricke, 1989
Callionymus octostigmatus Fricke, 1981
Callionymus platycephalus Fricke, 1983
Callionymus pleurostictus Fricke, 1982

0
Callionymus rivatoni Fricke, 1993

0
Callionymus russelli Johnson, 1976
Callionymus sagitta Pallas, 1770
Callionymus scabriceps Fowler, 1941
Callionymus schaapi Bleeker, 1852
Callionymus semeiophor Fricke, 1983
Callionymus simplicicornis Valenciennes, 1837

0
Callionymus sphynx Fricke and Heckele, 1984
Callionymus sublaevis McCulloch, 1926
Callionymus superbus Fricke, 1983
Callionymus tethys Fricke, 1993
Callionymus umbrithorax Fowler, 1941
Callionymus whiteheadi Fricke, 1981
0 Dactylopus dactylopus (Bennett in Valenciennes, 1837)
Diplogrammus goramensis (Bleeker, 1858)
0 Eleutherochir opercularis (Valenciennes, 1837)
Synchiropus altivelis (Temminck and Schlegel, 1845)
Synchiropus australis (Nakabo and McKay, 1989)

0
Synchiropus bartelsi Fricke, 1981
Synchiropus calauropomus (Richardson, 1844)
Synchiropus circularis Fricke, 1984
Synchiropus claudiae Fricke, 1990
Synchiropus delandi Fowler, 1943
Synchiropus grinnelli Fowler, 1941
Synchiropus kiyoae Fricke and Zaiser, 1983
Synchiropus kuiteri Fricke, 1992
Synchiropus laddi Schultz, 1960
Synchiropus lateralis (Richardson, 1844)
Synchiropus lineolatus (Valenciennes, 1837)
Synchiropus morrisoni Schultz, 1960
Synchiropus moyeri Zaiser and Fricke, 1985
Synchiropus novaecaledoniae Fricke, 1993
Synchiropus ocellatus (Pallas, 1770)

0
Synchiropus picturatus (Peters, 1876)
Synchiropus rameus (McCulloch, 1926)
Synchiropus splendidus (Herre, 1927)
Synchiropus springeri Fricke, 1983
Synchiropus zamboanganus Seale, 1910
References
Fricke, R. 1983. Revision of the Indo-Pacific genera and species of the dragonet family Callionymidae (Teleostei).
Theses Zoologicae 3. Braunschweig, J. Cramer, 774 p.
Fricke, R. 1993. Pisces Teleostei: Callionymidae of New Caledonia with descriptions of new species. Mem. Mus. Natl.
Hist. Nat., 158:361-376.
3556 Bony Fishes

Callionymus belcheri Richardson, 1844

Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Callionymus recurvispinnis (Li, 1966); Calliurichthys belcheri
(Richardson, 1844) / None.
FAO names: En - Flathead dragonet; Fr - Dragonnet à tête plate; Sp - Lagarto aplanado.

(from Fricke, 1983)

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, depressed. Head extremely depressed, its length 3.9 to 4.6
times in standard length. Eye diameter 2.4 to 3.1 times in head length (measured to gill opening).
Preopercular spine long, ventral margin concave, with 3 to 9 antrorse serrae on its dorsal margin, a
straight or downcurved main tip, and a strong antrorse point at its base. First dorsal fin with IV spines,
without filaments. Second dorsal fin with 9 unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base). Anal fin
with 8 (rarely 9) unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base). Caudal fin symmetrical, often elongate
in males. Lateral line reaching from hind margin of eye to end of third branched caudal-fin ray, with 2 ventral
branches in postorbital region; lateral lines of opposite sides interconnected by a transverse branch across
occipital region and across dorsal side of caudal peduncle. Colour: head and body yellowish to brown; back
with many small white spots; sides of body with white blotches surrounded with dark brown; belly whitish;
first dorsal fin brownish, distal margin often blackish, in males with white spots; second dorsal fin with light
and dark streaks or small white spots; anal fin in males with a dark streak, in females colourless or with distal
dark spots; lower two-thirds of caudal fin spotted with brown.
Size: Maximum total length 13 cm, commonly to 11 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Benthic, common on sand bottoms at depths of 4 to 37 m. Feeds on small
bottom organisms (crustaceans and worms). Caught as bycatch by prawn trawlers. Used for fish meal
production; occasionally marketed fresh (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia).
Distribution: Two subspe-
c ies; Callionymus belcheri
belcheri around the northern
half of Australia and New
Guinea, Callionymus belcheri
recurvispinnis from India to
China, Thailand, and northern
Indonesia.
Perciformes: Callionymoidei: Callionymidae 3557

Callionymus filamentosus Valenciennes, 1837

Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Callionymus brunneus Fowler, 1941; C. haifae Fowler and
Steinitz, 1956; C. longi Fowler, 1941; C. punctilateralis Fowler, 1941; C. stigmapteron Smith, 1963;
Calliurichthys filamentosus (Valenciennes, 1837) / None.
FAO names: En - Filamentous dragonet; Fr - Dragonnet à filaments; Sp - Lagarto filamentoso.

(from Fricke, 1983)

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, depressed. Head depressed, its length 4 to 4.9 times in standard
length. Eye diameter 2.2 to 2.8 times in head length (measured to gill opening). Preopercular spine long,
ventral margin convex, with 4 to 9 antrorse serrae on its dorsal margin, a strong main tip, and a strong,
straight antrorse point at its base. First dorsal fin with IV spines, without filaments in females; first spine
separate in males, with a long filament (see figure). Second dorsal fin with 9 unbranched soft rays (the
last divided to its base). Anal fin with 9 unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base). Caudal fin
symmetrical, with 2 median filaments in males. Lateral line reaching from hind margin of eye to end of third
branched caudal-fin ray, with 2 long ventral branches in postorbital region; lateral lines of opposite sides
interconnected by a transverse branch across occipital region and across dorsal side of caudal peduncle.
Colour: body whitish or brown, dorsally with many small whitish and/or dark brown spots; sides with a row
of dark spots; ventral sides silvery white; first dorsal fin distally blackish, or with a black blotch on third
membrane; second dorsal fin, caudal fin, pectoral and pelvic fins spotted with brown; anal fin white.
Size: Maximum total length 15 cm, commonly to 11 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Benthic, common on sand bottoms from the shore to depths of 100 m.
Feeds on small bottom organisms (crustaceans, worms, and snails). Present fishing grounds Thailand,
Indonesia, and Philippines. Caught by trawl or seine fisheries. Used for fish meal production; often marketed
fresh (Thailand, Indonesia,
Philippines).
Distribution: Red Sea, East
and South Africa to Taiwan
Province of China, northwest-
ern Australia, and Vanuatu;
immigrated through Suez Ca-
nal into eastern Mediterra-
nean.
3558 Bony Fishes

Callionymus fluviatilis Day, 1875

Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Repomucenus fluviatilis (Day, 1875) / None.
FAO names: En - River dragonet; Fr - Dragonnet de rivière; Sp - Lagarto fluvial.

(from Fricke, 1983)

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, depressed. Head depressed, its length 3.7 to 4.1 times in
standard length. Eye diameter 2.8 to 3.2 times in head length (measured to gill opening). Preopercular
spine relatively long, ventral margin smooth or slightly convex, with 2 to 6 curved points on its dorsal
margin, a short slightly upcurved main tip, and a strong antrorse point at its base. First dorsal fin with IV
spines, without filaments. Second dorsal fin with 10 unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base).
Anal fin with 9 unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base). Caudal fin distally convex, not elongate.
Lateral line reaching from hind margin of eye to end of third branched caudal-fin ray, with 2 short ventral
branches in postorbital region; lateral lines of opposite sides interconnected by a transverse branch across
occipital region and across dorsal side of caudal peduncle. Colour: sandy yellow, ventrally lighter; first dorsal
fin with a black blotch basally on third membrane; second dorsal fin, caudal fin, pectoral and pelvic fins
spotted with brown; anal fin white.
Size: Maximum total length 10 cm, commonly to 9 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Benthic, common in lower reaches of rivers and estuaries, on sand and
mud bottom. Feeds on small bottom organisms. Caught by seine fisheries and in fish traps. Marketed fresh
in Viet Nam and Thailand.
Distribution: India to Thai-
land and Viet Nam. Vietnam-
ese p o p u l a t i o ns m ay
represent a separate species.
Perciformes: Callionymoidei: Callionymidae 3559

Callionymus grossi Ogilby, 1910

Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Callionymus nasutus McCulloch, 1926; Calliurichthys grossi
(Ogilby, 1910) / None.
FAO names: En - Gross’s dragonet; Fr - Dragonnet de Gross; Sp - Lagarto de Gross.

(from Fricke, 1983)

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, depressed. Head depressed, its length 4 to 5 times in standard
length. Eye diameter 2.6 to 3.3 times in head length (measured to gill opening). Preopercular spine long
and slender, with 7 to 18 small antrorse serrae at its dorsal margin, a straight main tip, and a strong
antrorse point at its base. First dorsal fin with IV spines, very large in both sexes, with a characteristic shape.
First dorsal-fin base length 0.8 to 0.9 times in head length. Second dorsal fin with 9 unbranched soft rays
(the last divided to its base). Anal fin with 8 (rarely 7) unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base).
Caudal fin asymmetrical, lower rays longer than upper rays. Lateral line reaching from hind margin of eye
to end of third or fourth branched caudal-fin ray; lateral lines of opposite sides interconnected by a transverse
branch across occipital region. Colour: ground coloration dark brown or grey, ventral parts of body yellowish;
sides of body with a row of dark blotches; first dorsal fin light, anterior margin dusky, with 3 to 5 oblique white
dark-edged stripes consisting of spots and lines; second dorsal fin, caudal fin, pectoral and pelvic fins with
darkish spots; anal fin colourless.
Size: Maximum total length 25 cm, commonly to 17 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Benthic, common on sand bottoms of shallow coastal areas. Feeds on
small bottom organisms (crustaceans, worms, and snails). Caught as bycatch by prawn trawlers. Used for
fish meal production; rarely
marketed (as bait).
Distribution: Northern half of
Australia, from Moreton Bay
(southern Queensland) to
Exmouth Gulf and Shark Bay
(Western Australia).
3560 Bony Fishes

Callionymus japonicus Houttuyn, 1782

Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Callionymus longicaudatus Temminck and Schlegel, 1845;
Calliurichthys japonicus (Houttuyn, 1782) / None.
FAO names: En - Longtailed dragonet; Fr - Dragonnet à queue longue; Sp - Lagarto de cola larga.

(from Fricke, 1983)

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, depressed. Head broad and depressed, its length 4 to 5 times
in standard length. Eye diameter 2.8 to 3.8 times in head length (measured to gill opening). Preopercular
spine long, with 5 to 8 small antrorse serrae on its dorsal margin, a straight main tip, and a strong
antrorse spine at its base. First dorsal fin with IV spines (first and second filamentous in males). Second
dorsal fin with 9 unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base). Anal fin with 8 unbranched soft
rays (the last divided to its base). Distal margin of pelvic fins convex. Caudal fin symmetrical, median rays
extremely elongate. Lateral line reaching from hind margin of eye to end of third or fourth branched caudal-fin
ray, with 2 branches at its ventral side in postorbital region; lateral lines of opposite sides interconnected by
a transverse branch across occipital region, and by 2 transverse branches across dorsal side of caudal
peduncle. Colour: ground coloration dark brown, ventral parts of body light brown or white; back with some
darker saddles, sides of body with a row of black blotches; first dorsal fin with an ocellate black blotch on
third membrane; anal fin with a broad distal black streak; second dorsal fin, caudal fin, pectoral and pelvic
fins with brownish spots and blotches.
Size: Maximum total length 44 cm, commonly to 35 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Benthic, common on sand and mud bottoms at depths of 25 to 150 m.
Feeds on small bottom organisms (mostly worms and crustaceans). Present fishing grounds Gulf of Thailand
and Philippines. Caught as bycatch by prawn trawlers. Often marketed fresh in Thailand and the Philippines.
Distribution: J a p a n a n d
China to Gulf of Thailand, Phil-
ippines, New Guinea, eastern
Australia, and Lord Howe Is-
land. Australian and New
Guinea populations possibly
represent a separate species.
Perciformes: Callionymoidei: Callionymidae 3561

Callionymus limiceps Ogilby, 1908

Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Repomucenus limiceps (Ogilby, 1908) / None.
FAO names: En - Roughheaded dragonet; Fr - Dragonnet à tête rugeuse; Sp - Lagarto de cabeza ruda.

(from Fricke, 1983)

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, depressed. Head broad and depressed, its length 3.5 to 4.2
times in standard length. Eye diameter 3.8 to 4.4 times in head length (measured to branchial opening).
Preopercular spine short, with an upcurved main tip, one curved point at its dorsal side, and a short
antrorse spine at its base. First dorsal fin with IV spines (first and second with long filaments in males, with
short filaments in females). Second dorsal fin with 9 unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base).
Anal fin with 9 unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base). Caudal fin symmetrical, with a convex
distal margin. Lateral line reaching from hind margin of eye to end of third branched caudal-fin ray; lateral
lines of opposite sides interconnected by a transverse branch across occipital region and across dorsal side
of caudal peduncle. Colour: body brown above, closely speckled with darker spots of varying sizes, whitish
below; first dorsal fin with a black spot on third spine; filamentous spines with numerous grey annuli; second
dorsal fin, caudal fin, pectoral and pelvic fins with darker spots; anal fin with a broad dusky margin.
Size: Maximum total length 18 cm, commonly to 14 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Benthic, living on sand bottoms at depths of 24 to 48 m. Feeds on small
bottom organisms (crustaceans, worms, and snails). Present fishing grounds in Queensland, Australia.
Caught as bycatch by prawn trawlers. Used for fish meal production; occasionally marketed (as bait).
Distribution: Northern half of
Australia, southern Queens-
land to Shark Bay (Western
Australia).
3562 Bony Fishes

Callionymus melanotopterus Bleeker, 1851

Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Repomucenus melanotopterus (Bleeker, 1851) / None.
FAO names: En - Darter dragonet; Fr - Dragonnet flèche; Sp - Lagarto flecha.

(from Fricke, 1983)

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, depressed. Head depressed, its length 4.1 to 4.4 times in
standard length. Eye diameter 2.1 to 2.6 times in head length (measured to gill opening). Preopercular
spine with a straight, smooth ventral margin, 3 to 4 curved points on its dorsal margin, an upcurved
main tip, and a strong antrorse point at its base. First dorsal fin with IV spines, without filaments; first spine
longest. Second dorsal fin with 10 unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base). Anal fin with 9
unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base). Caudal fin distally slightly elongate. Lateral line reaching
from hind margin of eye to end of third branched caudal- fin ray, with 2 short ventral branches in postorbital
region; lateral lines of opposite sides interconnected by a transverse branch across occipital region and
across dorsal side of caudal peduncle. Colour: dark brown, ventrally lighter, cheeks with dark spots, sides
with a row of dark spots; first dorsal fin distally dark, second membrane with an ocellate black blotch; second
dorsal, caudal, pectoral, and pelvic fins spotted with dark; anal fin distally dusky, basally with whitish streaks.
Size: Maximum total length 10 cm, commonly to 9 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Benthic, on inshore sand and mud bottoms. Feeds on small bottom
organisms. Caught by seine and trawl fisheries. Occasionally marketed fresh in Singapore and western
Indonesia.
Distribution: Malaysia, Sin-
gapore, and Western Indone-
sia.
Perciformes: Callionymoidei: Callionymidae 3563

Callionymus meridionalis Suwardji, 1965

Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Callionymus monofilispinnus L i , 19 6 6; Repomucenus
meridionalis (Suwardji, 1965) / Callionymus limiceps Ogilby, 1908 (Thailand).
FAO names: En - Highfin dragonet; Fr - Dragonnet à nageoire haute; Sp - Lagarto de aleta alta.

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, depressed. Head depressed, its length 4 to 4.7 times in standard
length. Eye diameter 2.7 to 3.3 times in head length (measured to gill opening). Preopercular spine short,
ventral margin straight, with 1 or 2 curved points on its dorsal margin, a strong main tip directed
upwards, and a strong, straight antrorse point at its base. First dorsal fin with IV spines, without filaments
in females. Second dorsal fin with 9 (rarely 8) unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base). Anal
fin with 9 unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base). Caudal fin elongate in males, median rays
may bear short filaments, distally convex in females. Lateral line reaching from hind margin of eye to end
of fourth branched caudal-fin ray, with 2 long ventral branches in postorbital region; lateral lines of opposite
sides interconnected by a transverse branch across occipital region and across dorsal side of caudal
peduncle. Colour: head and body light brown, back with many light spots, ventral parts yellowish to white;
sides with a row of dark blotches; pectoral-fin base with a dusky spot; first dorsal fin in males whitish, in
females black; second dorsal, caudal, pectoral, and pelvic fins spotted with brown; anal fin black in males,
with a distal black streak in females.
Size: Maximum total length 15 cm, commonly to 12 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Benthic, common on sand and mud bottoms from the shore to depths of
80 m. Feeds on small bottom organisms (crustaceans, worms, and snails). Present fishing grounds Thailand,
Indonesia, and Philippines.
Caught by trawl or seine fish-
eries. Used for fish meal pro-
d u c ti o n ; occasionally
marketed fresh (Thailand, In-
donesia, Philippines).
Distribution: China (includ-
ing Taiwan Province) to the
Gulf of Thailand, the Philip-
pines, western Indonesia, and
off northwestern Australia.
3564 Bony Fishes

Callionymus octostigmatus Fricke, 1981

Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Repomucenus octostigmatus (Fricke, 1981) / None.
FAO names: En - Eightspot dragonet; Fr - Dragonnet à huit points; Sp - Lagarto de ocho manchas.

(from Fricke, 1983)

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, depressed. Head depressed, its length 3.4 to 4 times in standard
length. Eye diameter 2.1 to 2.9 times in head length (measured to gill opening). Preopercular spine with
a smooth, straight ventral margin, with 2 to 6 curved points on its dorsal margin, a strong main tip
directed upwards, and a strong, straight antrorse point at its base. First dorsal fin with IV spines, very high
in males, each spine filamentous; low in females, without filaments. Second dorsal fin with 9 unbranched
soft rays (the last divided to its base). Anal fin with 9 unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base).
Caudal fin elongate in males, median rays filamentous, distally convex in females. Lateral line reaching
from hind margin of eye to end of fourth branched caudal-fin ray, with 2 long ventral branches in postorbital
region; lateral lines of opposite sides interconnected by a transverse branch across occipital region and
across dorsal side of caudal peduncle. Colour: head and body brown, dorsally with many white-edged dark
spots; ventral sides whitish; sides with 1 or 2 rows of dark blotches; first dorsal fin in males with many irregular
white-edged dark lines; fin distally blackish in females and young males; second dorsal fin in males with
vertical blackish streaks; anal fin with 8 basal blackish spots; caudal, pectoral, and pelvic fins spotted
with brown.
Size: Maximum total length 15 cm, commonly to 12 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Benthic, common on sand and mud bottoms at depths of 49 to 148 m.
Feeds on small bottom organisms (crustaceans, worms, and snails). Present fishing grounds only the
Philippines. Caught by trawl fisheries. Used for fish meal production; occasionally marketed fresh.
Distribution: Andaman Sea
to China, the Philippines, and
New Guinea.
Perciformes: Callionymoidei: Callionymidae 3565

Callionymus russelli Johnson, 1976

Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Repomucenus russelli (Johnson, 1976) / None.
FAO names: En - Russell’s dragonet; Fr - Dragonnet de Russell; Sp - Lagarto de Russell.

(from Fricke, 1983)

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, depressed. Head depressed, its length 3.7 to 4.8 times in
standard length. Eye diameter 2.7 to 3.7 times in head length (measured to gill opening). Preopercular
spine with a smooth, straight ventral margin, with 2 to 4 slightly recurved points on its dorsal margin,
a strong, slightly upcurved main tip, and a strong, straight antrorse point at its base. First dorsal fin with
IV spines, first spine with a short filament. Second dorsal fin with 9 (rarely 8 to 10) unbranched soft rays
(the last divided to its base). Anal fin with 8 (rarely 7 to 10) unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its
base). Caudal fin elongate in males, median rays may bear short filaments, distally convex in females.
Lateral line reaching from hind margin of eye to end of fourth branched caudal-fin ray, with 2 long ventral
branches in postorbital region; lateral lines of opposite sides interconnected by a transverse branch across
occipital region and across dorsal side of caudal peduncle. Colour: head and body light brown, back with
small whitish spots, sides with dark blotches and small dark spots; first dorsal fin dusky in males, distal
margin blackish, with an elongate black blotch basally on second membrane; first dorsal fin blackish in
females, first membrane whitish; second dorsal fin in males with narrow horizontal streaks, anal fin in males
with a distal black streak; caudal, pectoral, and pelvic fins spotted with brown.
Size: Maximum total length 13 cm, commonly to 11 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Benthic, common on sand and mud bottoms from the shore to depths of
30 m. Feeds on small bottom organisms (crustaceans, worms, and snails). Present fishing grounds around
Queensland, Australia, and New Guinea. Caught by seine and trawl fisheries. Used for fish meal production;
occasionally marketed fresh (Papua New Guinea).
Distribution: Queensland in-
cluding Gulf of Carpentaria to
northern New South Wales,
Australia, and to Papua New
Guinea.
3566 Bony Fishes

Callionymus sagitta Pallas, 1770

Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Repomucenus sagitta (Pallas, 1770) / None.
FAO names: En - Sand dragonet; Fr - Dragonnet de Sable; Sp - Lagarto de arena.

(from Fricke, 1983)

Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, depressed. Head depressed, its length 3.5 to 4.4 times in
standard length. Eye diameter 2.6 to 3.6 times in head length (measured to gill opening). Preopercular
spine with a smooth, straight ventral margin, with 2 to 6 curved points on its dorsal margin, an
upcurved main tip, and a strong, straight antrorse point at its base. First dorsal fin with IV spines, low,
without filaments. Second dorsal fin with 9 unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base). Anal fin
with 9 unbranched soft rays (the last divided to its base). Caudal fin distally convex in both sexes, not
elongate. Lateral line reaching from hind margin of eye to end of fourth branched caudal-fin ray, with a
ventral branches in postorbital region; lateral lines of opposite sides interconnected by a transverse branch
across occipital region and across dorsal side of caudal peduncle. Colour: head and body sand yellow,
covered with numerous small dark spots; ventral sides whitish; dorsal fin black, first membrane often (at
least basally) whitish in females; anal fin white; second dorsal, caudal, pectoral, and pelvic fins spotted with
brown.
Size: Maximum total length 11 cm, commonly to 9 cm.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Benthic, common on inshore sand bottoms. Feeds on small bottom
organisms (crustaceans, worms, and snails). Present fishing grounds in western Indonesia and the Gulf of
Thailand. Caught by seine and trawl fisheries. Used for fish meal production; occasionally marketed fresh
(Thailand, western Indonesia).
Distribution: India to Gulf of
Thailand and western Indone-
sia including Sulawesi.

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