Callionymus bairdii

Callionymus bairdii, Lancer Dragonet. Source: J.T. Williams. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010676.g162
Callionymus bairdii, Lancer Dragonet.
Source: J.T. Williams. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010676.g162
FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
CallionymidaeCallionymus bairdiiJordan1888Lancer Dragonet

Callionymus bairdii

Unique Characters: Body mottled. First dorsal fin high and wide. Ventrolateral dermal fold (keel) absent. Seven or more anal-fin rays. Preopercular spine with an forward-projecting ventral spine and three or more upward directed spines.

Similar Species:

Spotted Dragonet
Chalinops pauciradiatus

Spotfin Dragonet
Synchiropus agassizii

Synchiropus agassizii, Spotfin Dragonet. Source: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC
Synchiropus agassizii, Spotfin Dragonet.
Source: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC

Spotted Dragonet Chalinops pauciradiatus. Body tan, mottled; reticulated below. A long, horizontal fold (keel) of skin along body ventrolaterally from abdomen to caudal fin and with rows of spots. Preopercular spine with three teeth. Four anal-fin rays.

Spotfin Dragonet Synchiropus agassizii. Body orange-red with yellow markings on fins. Ocellated black spot in first dorsal fin. Ventrolateral dermal fold (keel) absent. Seven or more anal-fin rays. Antrorse ventral spine lacking and usually only two upward directed spines at posterior preopercular tip.

Palefin Dragonet
Synchiropus goodenbeani

Synchiropus goodenbeani, Palefin Dragonet. Source: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology
Synchiropus goodenbeani, Palefin Dragonet. Source: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology

Palefin Dragonnet, Synchiropus goodenbeaniVentrolateral dermal fold absent. 7 or more anal-fin rays. Preopercular antrorse ventral spine lacking and usually only 2 upward directed spines at posterior preopercular tip. First dorsal-fin spine elongate and filamentous; second dorsal fin shallowly emarginate in both sexes. Pectoral fin usually with 2 unbranched and 18-21 branched rays. Blackish mark on first dorsal fin absent or very small; First dorsal fin without a blackish mark in specimens > 12 cm standard length (SL); without blackish mark or with a faint darkish mark between 7-12 cm SL; and with a small spot in specimens < 7 mm SL. Anal fin without blackish band in males. Predorsal length 22-32% (average 28.5%) of SL.

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