? Dragonets
Ocellated dragonet, Synchiropus ocellatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Callionymidae
Genera
Anaora Bathycallionymus Callionymus Calliurichthys Dactylopus Diplogrammus Draculo Eleutherochir Eocallionymus Foetorepus Minysynchiropus Neosynchiropus Paracallionymus Paradiplogrammus Protogrammus Pseudocalliurichthys Repomucenus Synchiropus

Dragonets are small perciform marine fish of the diverse family Callionymidae (from the Greek kallis, "beautiful" and onyma, "name"). Found mainly in the tropical waters of the western Indo-Pacific, the family contains approximately 186 species in 18 genera. The Draconettidae may be considered a sister family, whose members are very much alike though rarely seen. Due to similarities in morphology and behaviour, dragonets are sometimes confused with members of the goby family. Ocellated dragonet (Synchiropus ocellatus). ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria (coral, jellyfish, anemones) Placozoa (trichoplax) Subregnum Bilateria (bilateral symmetry) Acoelomorpha (basal) Orthonectida (parasitic to flatworms, echinoderms, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicatas Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders See text The Actinopterygii are the ray-finned fish. ... Families many, see text The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, include about 40% of all fish and are the largest order of vertebrates. ... Families many, see text The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, include about 40% of all fish and are the largest order of vertebrates. ... Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus: the most abundant species of fish in the world. ... The Indo-Pacific is the aggregate of the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the minor seas between the two in the general area of Indonesia. ... Genera Many, e. ...

Physical description

These "little dragons" are generally highly colourful with cryptic patterns. Their bodies are elongate and scaleless; a strong spine guards the preopercle (part of the gill cover), which has been reported to be venomous in some species. All fins are large, showy and elongate; the first high dorsal fin usually has four spines; in males, the first of these spines may be further adorned with filamentous extentions. Dragonets have flattened, triangular heads with large mouths and eyes; their tail fins are fan-shaped and tapered. Saint George versus the dragon, Gustave Moreau, c. ... gills of a Smooth Newt Gills inside of a tuna head In aquatic organisms, gills are a respiratory organ for the extraction of oxygen from water and for the excretion of carbon dioxide. ... It has been suggested that Snake poison be merged into this article or section. ...

The largest species, the longtail dragonet (Callionymus gardineri) reaches a length of 30 centimetres. At the other end of the scale, the St. Helena dragonet (Callionymus sanctaehelenae) reaches a length of just 2 centimetres. Many species exhibit marked sexual dimorphism: males and females are coloured and patterned differently, and (in addition to the spine filament) males have a much higher dorsal fin. This theme is taken to extremes in the high-finned dragonet (Synchiropus rameus). Female (left) and male Common Pheasant, illustrating the dramatic difference in form between the sexes Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different sex in the same species. ...

Behaviour

Dragonets are benthic animals, spending most of their time on or near the bottom. They prefer sandy or rocky substrates, sometimes near reefs. Inhabiting depths down to about 200 metres, dragonets feed mostly on crustaceans, worms and other small invertebrates rooted out from the substrate. The dragonet's large pectoral fins serve as a primary means of propulsion. Males are highly territorial between themselves. In oceanography, marine geology and biology, benthos are the organisms and habitats of the sea floor; in freshwater biology they are the organisms and habitats of the bottoms of lakes, rivers, and creeks. ... A reef surrounding an islet. ... Classes Class Branchiopoda Subclass Phyllopoda Subclass Sarsostraca Class Remipedia Order Enantiopoda Order Nectiopoda Class Cephalocarida Order Brachypoda Class Maxillopoda Subclass Mystacocarida Subclass Copepoda Subclass Branchiura Subclass Pentastomida Subclass Tantulocarida Subclass Thecostraca Infraclass Cirripedia Class Ostracoda Order Metacopina Subclass Myodocopa Subclass Podocopa Class Malacostraca Subclass Eumalacostraca Subclass Hoplocarida Subclass Phyllocarida The... A worm is an elongated soft-bodied invertebrate animal. ... Invertebrate is a term coined by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck to describe any animal without a spinal column. ...

Although their bright colours and showy fins make them a popular choice for the aquarium, most dragonets are picky eaters and will only accept live food. A tropical display tank at the Georgia Aquarium An aquarium (plural aquariums or aquaria) is a vivarium, usually contained in a clear-sided container (typically constructed of glass or high-strength plastic) in which water-dwelling plants and animals (usually fish, and sometimes invertebrates, as well as amphibians, marine mammals...

Spawning involves elaborate courtship displays; the males show off their flashy fins and repeatedly open and close their mouths. If the female is interested, pairing occurs and the two fish rise upwards with male supporting the female on his pectoral fins. Eggs and sperm are released in midwater, where fertilization takes place. The buoyant eggs subsequently become part of the plankton, drifting with the currents until hatching. Photomontage of plankton organisms For the Spongebob SquarePants character, see Sheldon J. Plankton. ...

See also

• List of fish common names
• List of fish families

This is a list of fish common names. ... This is a list of fish families sorted by scientific name. ...

External link

• "Callionymidae". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. July 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.