Banded dragonet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Banded dragonet |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Callionymiformes |
| Family: | Callionymidae |
| Genus: | Callionymus |
| Species: |
C. fasciatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Callionymus fasciatus Valenciennes, 1837
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The banded dragonet (Callionymus fasciatus) is a special type of fish called a dragonet. It lives in the Mediterranean Sea, from the Gulf of Genoa to the western Aegean Sea. You can also find it in the southern and eastern parts of the Black Sea. This fish loves to live on sandy seafloors. It eats small creatures that live on the bottom, like tiny worms and crabs.
Contents
What Does the Banded Dragonet Look Like?
The banded dragonet has a body without scales. It is long and gets narrower towards its tail. Its head is shaped like a triangle, and it has a short snout. Its mouth can stick out, helping it grab food.
Eyes and Fins
This fish has oval eyes placed on top of its head. They are quite large, about one-third the length of its head. It has a tall, rectangular first dorsal fin with four spiny rays. The first ray is taller than the others. The second dorsal fin has 10 soft rays and looks a bit like a veil.
Its anal fin is right under the second dorsal fin. It's about the same length but not as tall. The pectoral fins are round and wide. The ventral fins are well-developed. The caudal fin, or tail fin, is very wide and looks like a fan.
Colors and Size
The banded dragonet's body color can be olive-green or reddish. It has 5 to 7 dark brown, saddle-like spots across its back.
Male and female banded dragonets look a bit different. This is called sexual dimorphism. Males have rows of dark spots on their second dorsal fin, forming cool diagonal patterns. Males can grow up to 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long. Females are smaller, reaching about 8 centimetres (3.1 in).
Where Do Banded Dragonets Live?
Banded dragonets live on sandy and muddy seafloors. They are usually found at depths from 20 metres (66 ft) to 60 metres (200 ft). Sometimes, they have been seen much deeper, even up to 400 metres (1,300 ft)!
Their Home and Food
This fish is very territorial. This means it will strongly defend its home area from other fish. Banded dragonets eat small invertebrates. They especially like annelids (like marine worms) and crustaceans (like tiny crabs or shrimp). In the Sea of Marmara, they prefer to live on sand mixed with broken shells.
