ANIMALIA

     Dragonet
 

Common Name(s):  Dragonet Scientific Name:  Callionymus lyra  Family: Usual Size:  to 300 mm  to 180 g

                                  Photograph by Andy Horton

Photograph taken in aquaria on a black substrate, so the sandy colours that merge so well with the sand can be distinguished. 

Identification: Male Dragonet, stranded out of the water on Les Minquiers, Channel Islands March 2002 Photograph by Nicolas Jouault I watched a 100 mm (4 in) Dragonet and several smaller ones hunting on the sand close to the pier; sand-coloured fish with darker mottlings, difficult to spot when  motionless.  Seen from above, the large specimen was distinctly triangular, widest at the head and tapering steadily backwards (most books only show side views).  The head was low and apparently flat underneath, with a wide mouth and big eyes.  The dorsal fins were folded flat on its back, and the tail fin was also held closed.  Its rather protruberant eyes must have given it a good view of the surrounding seabed as it swam slowly and erratically along, occasionally pouncing on a tiny transparent shrimp.  While moving slowly, it swam barely clear of the bottom, settling every few inches (about 50 mm) on to the sand, and using its huge splayed pectoral fins for propulsion; only when alarmed did it dart away for 60 cm or so with beats of the tail, then it settled on to the sand again, almost invisible.  At no time were the big dorsal and verbal fins, so distinctive in  book illustrations, erected; and the colour was its practical everyday garb, not the male's breeding colours usually illustrated.  by Jane Lilley 50% juveniles collected alive at Worthing in September 1998 had much darker heads (look carefully at the photograph). Aquarium observation indicate that the brown heads can appear and disappear, which happens in one fish. On the other fish the darker ahead remains constant.  This fish has eyes on the top and a shape like the Mudskipper species of the tropical mangrove habitats.  Similar species:   Callionymus maculatus, Callionymus reticulatus Reticulated Dragonet Images http://shop.uwphoto.no/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=rsv005cd14   male http://shop.uwphoto.no/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=esv039cd10   female Common Dragonet Images http://shop.uwphoto.no/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=rsv005cd30   male Rudolf Svenson ID to be decided:   Image (click on this text) Dragonet Callionymus lyra Photograph by Derek Haslam Derek Haslam's Photo Gallery on  flickr Breeding:  Distinctive courtship behaviour (to be described) Their courtship is quite elaborate, which is unusual in British fish. The male I watched approached the female, then spread his pectoral fins and erected both dorsal fins, showing off their colours, at the same time lifting his head and opening his mouth very wide; he did this repeatedly. Had the female responded, the courtship would, I am told, have continued with increasing excitement until the two fish swam vertically upwards, undersides together with the female resting on the male's pectoral fins, and released their eggs and sperm to be fertilised between their bodies before it drifted away. by Jane Lilley   18 January 2008 Yellow and blue fish caught at Marchwood (on the Solent/RiverTest) opposite the Southampton Container Docks. The dorsal fin is 4-5inch long. Report & Photograph by Charles Fox Habitat: Over sand and mud.  Food:  Young fish are sand shifters, filtering small organisms from ingested sand.  Adults eat small crustaceans and worms, Carrion probably not an important part of its diet and may not be recognised as food. In captivity, they started feeding on crushed frozen prawn after four days.  Range: All British coasts.  Shallow water to 30 metres, occasionally deeper.  Juveniles intertidal, although all Sussex specimens were found in Autumn, as late as October.  Frequent in Shoreham Harbour entrance, Sussex, below low water mark in August  Bionomics: Habitually buries completely under the sand. Even on pools on the shore, the presence of this fish can go undetected. Head and eyes only may protrude and fish may quickly emerge from hiding to feed.  Protruberant eyes revolve and appear very alert to the smallest movement.  Additional Notes: Dragonets under Swanage Pier Further Information Link Fish Index  (Phil Whiting entry) Information wanted: Please send any records of this fish, with location, date, who discovered it, how it was identified, prevalence, common name and any other details to  Shorewatch Project EMail Glaucus@hotmail.com.  All messages will receive a reply. Shorewatch Project Report  Forms