Sailfin dragonet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sailfin dragonet |
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Callionymus festivus Pallas, 1814 |
The sailfin dragonet (Callionymus pusillus) is a small and colorful fish. It belongs to a group of fish called dragonets. You can find these fish in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. They live along the coast of Portugal and down to Morocco. They also swim in the northern Mediterranean Sea, including the Adriatic, Aegean, and Black seas. You can even spot them near Lebanon, Israel, and Tunisia.
Male sailfin dragonets can grow up to 14 centimeters (about 5.5 inches) long. Females are a bit smaller, reaching about 10 centimeters (about 4 inches). This fish is very common in the Mediterranean Sea. It is often the only dragonet species found in protected ocean areas.
About the Sailfin Dragonet
The sailfin dragonet is a benthic species. This means it lives on or near the seabed. It prefers shallow waters with sandy bottoms. You can find them from the surface down to about 100 meters (328 feet) deep.
What They Look Like
The sailfin dragonet has a special look. It has three spines that point upwards on its preoperculum. This is a bone near its gill cover. One unique thing about this fish is its first dorsal fin. It is actually shorter than its second dorsal fin.
The second dorsal fin has long, thin rays. These rays extend into long filaments. These filaments can even reach past the fish's tail fin!
Male and female sailfin dragonets look different. Males are very brightly colored. They have 14 to 16 shiny, silvery lines across their body. These lines have black edges. Their fins also have cool blue streaks. Females are a plain beige color. They have small whitish spots on their bodies.
How They Live
Male sailfin dragonets are very protective of their space. They will aggressively defend their territory from other males. Like other dragonets, they have interesting ways of finding a mate.
Reproduction
The sailfin dragonet has a special way of reproducing. This process has four main steps. First, the male and female perform a courtship dance. Then, they form a pair. After that, they swim up to the surface of the water. There, they release their eggs and milt (sperm).
The spawning season for these fish is from May to August in the Mediterranean. Their eggs and young larvae float freely in the water. This means they are pelagic.
What They Eat
Sailfin dragonets mainly eat small creatures that live on the seabed. Their diet includes tiny worms and small crustaceans. Crustaceans are like tiny crabs or shrimp.
