Bony fish · Perciformes · Callionymidae

Mandarinfish

Synchiropus splendidus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The mandarinfish or mandarin dragonet is a marine fish of the family Callionymidae.

Size

up to 7 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Fun facts

It spawns in pairs at dusk: male and female rise together towards the surface and release eggs and sperm in midwater.
It has no scales; instead it secretes a thick, foul-smelling mucus that serves as a defence.
Every individual in the aquarium trade comes from the wild, and selective collection of large males can disrupt its mating system.

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bony fish)
Habitat & environment: Sheltered shallow lagoons and coastal reefs of the western Pacific, between 1 and 18 m; it shelters under foliose and dead coral
Litter / clutch size: From 12 to 205 eggs per clutch, at intervals of about a week

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchiropus_splendidus