Ocellated dragonet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ocellated dragonet |
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The ocellated dragonet or scooter dragonet (Neosynchiropus ocellatus) is a cool little fish that lives in the ocean. It's a type of marine fish found in warm, tropical waters. You can spot them in the southwest Pacific Ocean, all the way from southern Japan to the Marquesan Islands. They belong to a family of fish called Callionymidae.
What's in a Name?
This fish has a few different names! It's often called the ocellated dragonet or, in fish stores, the scooter blenny. This can be a bit confusing because it's not actually a blenny fish, even though it looks a bit like one. It's a dragonet! Sometimes, you might also see its scientific name written as Neosynchiropus ocellatus. Don't worry, it's still the same fish!
Looks of the Scooter Dragonet
The scooter dragonet is a small fish, growing to about 8 centimeters (around 3 inches) long. If you look at it from above, it has a distinct diamond shape. Its wide pectoral fins, which are like its "wings," are located at the widest part of its body.
These fish are usually brown and tan with cool striped or spotted patterns. Male scooter dragonets are often more colorful than females. They also have a large, sail-like fin on their back called a dorsal fin. This fin is often bright orange at its base, making the males really stand out!
Where They Live and What They Eat
The scooter dragonet is a bottom-dwelling fish. This means it spends most of its time near the ocean floor. It loves shallow, tropical waters, especially sandy lagoons or rocky reefs.
These fish often gather in loose groups of several individuals. However, they don't swim together in big schools like some other fish. Scooter dragonets mostly eat tiny creatures called copepods. Copepods are small zooplankton that float around in the water. If these fish are kept in aquariums, they can sometimes learn to eat other foods like frozen or even flake foods.
See also
In Spanish: Synchiropus ocellatus para niños
