Family Callionymidae, Dragonets. Pp. 444-466, pls. 163-168. In: Heemstra, P. C. et al. (eds.): Coastal fishes of the western Indian Ocean. Volume 4. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa.

Full text

EDITED BY
Phillip C Heemstra • Elaine Heemstra • David A Ebert • Wouter Holleman • John E Randall
VOLUME 4
COASTAL FISHES OF THE
WESTERN
INDIAN
OCEAN

EDITED BY
Phillip C Heemstra
Elaine Heemstra
David A Ebert
Wouter Holleman
John E Randall
VOLUME 4
COASTAL FISHES OF THE
WESTERN
INDIAN
OCEAN

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COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4444
GENUS Lissonanchus Smith 1966
Head broad and depressed, snout pointed; both jaws with
cluster of stout conical teeth at front. One species.
Lissonanchus lusheri Smith 1966
Streaky clingfish PL ATE 162
Lissonanchus lusheri Smith 1966: 642, Fig. 1, Pl. 19 (reef at Ponte Zavora,
southern Mozambique); SSF No. 110.8*.
Diagnosis as for genus. Dorsal fin 5 rays; anal fin 5 rays;
pectoral fins 16 rays. Pectoral-fin base with small fleshy pad.
Pelvic-disc length 3.8 in SL; anus located slightly closer to
anal-fin origin than to rear margin of pelvic disc; eye diameter
subequal to interorbital space, 4.4 in HL. Pelvic disc region
A with 4 or 5 rows of papillae across its width, and region C
with 4 rows. Gill rakers rudimentary; upper attachment of gill
membrane opposite pectoral-fin ray 2 or 3.
Body bright green, with several dark parallel streaks along
length. Attains 21 mm SL.
Lissonanchus lusheri, 25 mm TL, holotype (S Mozambique).
Source: Smith 1966
DISTRIBUTION Known only from two type specimens from
Mozambique.
GENUS Pherallodus Briggs 1955
Pelvic disc double; gill arches 3, membranes united and free
from isthmus. Two species, 1 in WIO.
Pherallodus smithi Briggs 1955
Mini clingfish
Pherallodus smithi Briggs 1955: 44, Figs. 24, 86 (Durban, KwaZulu-Natal,
South Africa); Smith 1964*; SSF No. 110.9*.
Dorsal fin 8 rays; anal fin 6 rays; pectoral fins 23 rays. Pelvic-
disc length 3.7 in SL; disc region A with 4 rows of papillae
across its width, region B with 4 rows, and region C with
2rows. Upper attachment of axial dermal flap opposite
pectoral-fin ray 5. Eye diameter 0.8 in interorbital space,
3.9inHL. Posterior nostrils located directly above front edge
of eyes. Incisors at sides of jaws with rounded tips. Upper
attachment of gill membrane opposite pectoral-fin ray 5.
Livecolour unknown. Attains at least 19 mm SL.
Pherallodus smithi, 20 mm TL, holotype (South Africa). Source: B riggs 1955
DISTRIBUTION Known only from the holotype from
SouthAfrica.
FAMILY CALLIONYMIDAE
Dragonets
Ronald Fricke and M Eric Anderson
Small-sized (to <35 cm TL), body elongate and moderately
depressed; head usually broad and depressed, typically
triangular when viewed from above; upper jaw protrusile. Two
separate dorsal fins: 1st with spines, 2nd with so rays; anal fin
with rays only; last dorsal- and anal-fin rays divided to base but
counted as single ray. Pelvic fins large, jugular, widely separated,
with 1 spine, 5 rays. Jaws with villiform teeth; no teeth on
palate. Preopercle with stout spine; no spines on opercle and
subopercle. Single nostril on each side of snout. Gill opening
restricted to small dorsal or sub-lateral pore. Gillrakers few or
absent. Lateral line present. No scales. Vertebrae 20–23.
Rear symphysis of upper lip as starting
point for measuring SL, TL, HL, and other
callionymid lengths (e.g., predorsal,
preanaland preorbital).
Adults benthic, from near shore to ~550 m in WIO,
elsewhere to ~900 m deep; eggs, larvae and transforming
larvae are planktonic. Found on sandy and muddy substrates,
among seagrasses, in tidepools and surf zone, and on coral
reefs. Typically colourful and commonly sexually dimorphic.
Some species are sold in the aquarium trade, but usually not of
commercial importance, although may be used for fishmeal in
some areas.
Occur in warm-temperate to temperate waters of all oceans.
Eleven genera and at least 190 species; 5 genera and 39 species
in WIO. Indo-Pacific species revised by Fricke (1983).

445FAMILY CALLIONYMIDAE
ORDER PERCIFORMES
KEY TO GENERA
1a Opercle with free flap of skin ........................................ 2
1b Opercle without free flap of skin ................................... 3
free skin flap on opercle
1a 1b
2a Body with lateral fold of skin below lateral line;
lower lip without fleshy papillae; anal-fin rays
unbranched ............................................. Diplogrammus
2b Body without lateral fold of skin below lateral line; dorsal
margin of lower lip with row of erect fleshy papillae;
anal-fin rays branched ......................................... Draculo
fleshy papillae
3a Lateral line with numerous long branches above
and below; preopercular spine simple, without
accessory spines ....................................... Paracallionymus
LL with many
branches
dorsal-fin rays
simple preopercular spine
3b Lateral line unbranched in most species; preopercular spine
with 1 or more accessory spines ................................... 4
accessory spines on preopercular spine
4a Snout shorter than eye diameter; dorsal-fin rays branched
(infish >3 cm TL); gill openings sub-lateral; no antrorse
spineat base of preopercular spine .................... Synchiropus
4b Snout subequal to or longer than eye diameter; dorsal-fin rays
unbranched; gill openings dorsal; antrorse spine present at
base of preopercular spine .............................. Callionymus
antrorse spine at base
ofpreopercular spine
4a 4b
GENUS Callionymus Linnaeus 1758
Body elongate, depressed; snout subequal to or longer than
eye diameter; no free flap of skin on opercle; preopercular
spine with antrorse spine at base; dorsal- and anal-fin rays
unbranched. Genus reviewed by Fricke (1983). About
119 species, most in tropical Indo-Pacific, but 7 species in
temperate North Atlantic; 24 species in WIO.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Both upper and lower edges of preopercular spine with
antrorse spine or serrae .............................................. 2
1b Only upper edge of preopercular spine with large curved point
or small antrorse serrae (1 or 2 antrorse spines may also be
present at base of spine) ............................................. 4
1a 1b
2a Snout densely covered with spines ..................... C. spiniceps
2b Snout without spines (except small preorbital spine present
insome species) ....................................................... 3
3a Supraorbital tentacle present; preopercular spine with
1–3 curved points on lower edge, plus antrorse spine
at base .................................................... C. muscatensis
3b No supraorbital tentacle; preopercular spine with
4–9 curved points on lower edge, plus antrorse spine
at base .................................................... C. oxycephalus
3a 3b
4a Preopercular spine with small antrorse serrae on
upper edge ............................................................. 5
4b Preopercular spine with large curved points on upper edge
(and rarely with 1 additional antrorse serra) .................... 14
4a 4b
5a Second dorsal fin 8 rays, last divided to base ..................... 6
5b Second dorsal fin 9 rays, last divided to base ..................... 9
6a Anal fin 7 rays, last divided to base ................................. 7
6b Anal fin 8 or 9 rays, last divided to base ........................... 8
7a Tip of preopercular spine curved upwards, and upper edge of
spine with 5 or 6 small antrorse serrae .................... C. flavus
Continued …

COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4446
KEY TO SPECIES
7b Tip of preopercular spine straight, and upper edge of
spinewith 8–15 small antrorse serrae ................ C. delicatulus
7a 7b
8a First spine of dorsal fin distinctly elongate, filamentous;
anal fin black distally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. margaretae
8b First spine of dorsal fin not distinctly elongate;
anal fin pale .................................................... C. tenuis
9a Anal fin 8 rays, last divided to base; males with 1st spine of
dorsal fin connected to 2nd spine ............................... 10
9b Anal fin 9 rays, last divided to base; males with 1st spine of
dorsal fin separate from 2nd spine .................. C. filamentosus
10a First dorsal-fin spine with long filament ........................ 11
10b First dorsal-fin spine without filament ........................... 13
11a Lower margin of caudal fin black ................................. 12
11b Lower margin of caudal fin pale ............................ C. aagilis
12a Dorsal fin with black blotch near tip of 3rd spine;
preopercular spine with 6–12 small antrorse serrae
on upper edge ...................................... C. gardineri [males]
12b No black blotch on 3rd spine of dorsal fin; preopercular spine
with 3–6 small antrorse serrae on upper edge . . . . . C. margaretae
12a 12b
13a Anal fin with black bar distally ............................ C. persicus
13b No black bar on anal fin ......................... C. gardineri [females]
14a Dorsal fin 3 spines; jaws extremely protrusile, forming broad
tube when protruded ........................................ C. hindsii
14b Dorsal fin 4 spines; jaws moderately protrusile, narrow when
protruded ............................................................. 15
15a Anal fin 7 rays, last divided to base .............. C. stigmatopareius
15b Anal fin 8 or 9 rays, last divided to base ......................... 16
16a Preopercular spine with small antrorse barb near tip,
plus 1 or 2 large curved points .................................... 17
16b Preopercular spine with ≥1 large curved points but
no antrorse barb near tip .......................................... 23
16a 16b
17a Caudal-fin margin convex or slightly pointed, middle 1 or
2rays with filaments ................................................ 18
17b Caudal-fin margin convex, without filaments .................. 20
18a Preopercular spine with 2 curved points on upper edge in
addition to small antrorse barb .......................... C. bentuviai
18b Preopercular spine with 1 curved point on upper edge in
addition to small antrorse barb ................................... 19
18a 18b
19a Pectoral fins 17 rays; preopercular spine slender, distance
between the two dorsal points greater than length of the
longest point; pelvic fins dark, with black blotch at base of
2nd ray; 1st dorsal fin of males with black blotch at base of
1st to 4th membranes; 4 dark oblique streaks on upper half
ofcaudal fin .................................. C. omanensis [deep water]
19b Pectoral fins 18–20 rays; preopercular spine stout, distance
between the two dorsal points less than length of the
longestpoint; pelvic fins pale with a few dark spots; 1st
dorsal fin of males with black blotch at base of 2nd and 3rd
membranes; upper half of caudal fin pale with a few
dark spots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. profundus [deep water]
20a Second dorsal fin with vertical black streaks ................... 21
20b Second dorsal fin with horizontal rows of white and dark
blotches .............................................. C. africanus [males]
21a First dorsal fin with black blotch on 1st or 2nd–3rd
membranes; cheeks pale ................................. C. kotthausi
21b First dorsal fin with black blotch only on 3rd membrane;
cheeks with spots or suborbital dark streak .................... 22
22a Suborbital dark streak present; anal fin black distally ..............
....................................................... C. africanus [females]
22b Suborbital region without dark streak, but with many
brownblotches encircled with darker brown ............ C. regani
23a Preopercular spine with 1 or 2 curved points on
upper edge ........................................................... 24
23b Preopercular spine with 3–7 curved points on
upper edge ........................................................... 25
23a 23b
24a Tip of preopercular spine long, curved, and spine not curved
upwards at base ............................................ C. carebares
24b Tip of preopercular spine short, straight, and spine curved
upwards from base ..................................... C. mascarenus
Continued …

447FAMILY CALLIONYMIDAE
ORDER PERCIFORMES
KEY TO SPECIES
25a Caudal fin elongate, middle 2 rays with filaments . . . . . . C. cooperi
25b Caudal-fin margin convex, without filaments .................. 26
26a Second spine of dorsal fin longer than 1st spine (both spines
may be filamentous in males) ......................... C. erythraeus
26b Second spine of dorsal fin shorter than 1st spine ............. 27
27a Preopercular spine strongly curved upwards at base;
males with white-edged black blotch on rear of
1st dorsal fin ............................................. C. mascarenus
27b Preopercular spine only slightly curved upwards at base;
noblack blotch on rear of 1st dorsal fin .................. C. marleyi
27a 27b
Callionymus aagilis Fricke 1999
Slow dragonet PL ATE 163
Callionymus aagilis Fricke 1999: 491, Fig. 9 (Réunion, Mascarenes);
Fricke2002; Fricke et al. 2009; Pinault et al. 2014.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (1st spine filamentous in males), 9 rays;
anal fin 8 rays; pectoral fins 21 rays; caudal fin 10 rays, middle
2 rays of males elongate but not filamentous. Lateral line
with 3branches in postorbital region of cheek, and lateral
lines joined across nape and top of peduncle. Percentage SL:
HL26%, body depth 10%, predorsal length 30%, and preanal
length 52%. Percentage HL: eye diameter 34%, snout length
42%. Preopercular spine with 5 or 6 points (serrae) on upper
edge and antrorse spine at base.
Body pale brown dorsally, cream ventrally, with midlateral
row of dark brown blotches; dorsum and head with dark
brown saddles and numerous small white spots; cheeks and
rear of head with small dusky spots; 1st dorsal fin of males
dark grey, with several narrow wavy white lines; caudal fin with
vertical rows of dark spots at centre. Attains at least 22.5 cm SL.
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Réunion and Mauritius.
Callionymus africanus (Kotthaus 1977)
African deepwater dragonet
Diplogrammus africanus Kotthaus 1977: 38, Figs. 421–424 (northeast of
Mombasa, Kenya) [in part].
Callionymus africanus: Fricke 1981*, 1983*, 1988*, 2002; Manilo &
Bogorodsky 2003; Fricke et al. 2014.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (none filamentous), 9 rays; anal fin 9 rays;
pectoral fins 20–22 rays; caudal fin 10 rays, middle 2 rays of
males with short filaments. Lateral line with 2 branches in
postorbital region of cheek, and lateral lines joined across nape
and top of peduncle. Percentage SL: HL 24–26%, body depth
8–13%, predorsal length 31–38%, and preanal length 45–47%.
Percentage HL: eye diameter 45–48%, snout length 30–32%.
Preopercular spine with 2 curved points and 1 serra on upper
edge, and antrorse spine at base.
Body yellow or brown dorsally, cream ventrally, with
midlateral row of paired dark brown blotches; dorsum and
head with pale spots bordered with dark brown; cheeks and
rear of head with dusky spots; 1st dorsal fin translucent, base
of 3rd membrane with large black blotch surrounded by white;
upper part of caudal fin with dusky blotches, lower part with
oblique dark bar. Attains 13 cm TL.
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, and a
seamount of Chain Ridge (06°58' N, 52°05' E).
REMARKS Found on so bottom, at 124–220 m.
Callionymus africanus, 83 mm SL,
female, preopercular spine inset
(Somalia). Source: Fricke 1983
Callionymus aagilis, 11 cm SL,
preopercular spine inset (Réunion).
Source: Fricke 1999

COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4448
Callionymus bentuviai Fricke 1981
Ben-Tuvia’s deepwater dragonet
Diplogrammus africanus Kotthaus 1977: 38, Figs. 421–424 (southern
RedSea) [in part].
Callionymus bentuviai Fricke 1981: 366, Fig. 12 (Eritrea, Red Sea);
Fricke1983*, 1988*, 2002; Baranes & Golani 1993*; Fricke et al. 2014.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (none filamentous), 9 rays; anal fin 9 rays;
pectoral fins 19–22 rays; caudal fin 8–10 rays, middle 2 rays
with long filaments in males, with short filaments in females.
Lateral line with 4 branches in postorbital region of cheek, and
lateral lines joined across nape and top of peduncle. Percentage
SL: HL 25–28%, body depth 8–11%, predorsal length 28–33%,
and preanal length 51–55%. Percentage HL: eye diameter
35–47%, snout length 20–25%. Preopercular spine with
3points (2 curved, 1 serra) on upper edge and antrorse spine
atbase.
Body dark brown dorsally, cream ventrally, with a few dark
spots dorsally and on sides; cheeks and pectoral-fin bases with
numerous dark blotches; 1st dorsal fin translucent, with large
black blotch surrounded by white on 3rd membrane, with
ventral branch of blotch reaching to 1st membrane; 2nd dorsal
fin of males with vertical dusky streaks; upper part of caudal
fin with narrow oblique band, lower part with broad oblique
dark bar. Attains 13 cm TL.
DISTRIBUTION WIO: endemic to Red Sea.
REMARKS Collected from so bottom, in 70–85 m.
Callionymus carebares Al cock 1890
Indian deepwater dragonet PL ATE 163
Callionymus carebares Alcock 1890: 209, Pl. 8, Fig. 8 (off Chennai,
India); Alcock 1899*; Fricke 1981*, 1983*, 1988*, 2000; Randall 1995*;
Carpenter et al. 1997*; Manilo & Bogorodsky 2003.
Bathycallionymus carebares: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (none filamentous), 9 rays; anal fin 9 rays;
pectoral fins 19–23 rays; caudal fin 10 rays, and middle rays
of males with short filaments. Lateral line with 2 branches in
postorbital region of cheek, and lateral lines joined across nape
and top of peduncle. Percentage SL: HL 28–37%, body depth
12–15%, predorsal length 31–38%, and preanal length 50–59%.
Percentage HL: eye diameter 29–38%, snout length 21–24%.
Preopercular spine with 1 or 2 curved points on upper edge,
main tip long and curved, and antrorse spine at base.
Body dark grey or brown above, cream ventrally, with
midlateral row of paired or triple dark brown blotches; males
with dusky spots on cheeks; 1st dorsal fin of males plain dark
grey, fin of females with large black blotch at base of 2nd
and 3rd membranes; caudal fin of males dusky distally, fin of
females with few dusky spots and streaks on upper part and
oblique dark bar on lower part. Attains 16 cm TL.
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Mozambique, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of
Oman to India; elsewhere to Bay of Bengal (Andhra Pradesh
coast of India).
REMARKS Found on so bottom, at 98–330 m.
Callionymus carebares, ~13 cm TL,
femaleholotype, preopercular spine
inset(SE India). Source: Alco ck 1892
Callionymus bentuviai, 85 mm SL,
preopercular spine inset (Eritrea).
Source: Fricke 1983

449FAMILY CALLIONYMIDAE
ORDER PERCIFORMES
Callionymus cooperi, 44 mm SL, male, preopercular spine inset
(Maldives). Source: Fricke 1983
Callionymus delicatulus, 46 mm TL, holotype,
preopercular spine and dorsal view of head
inset (Seychelles). Source: Smith 1963
Callionymus cooperi Regan 1908
Cooper’s dragonet
Callionymus cooperi Regan 1908: 247 (Suvadiva and Haddumati Atolls,
Maldives); Fricke 1983*, 1988*, 2002.
Repomucenus cooperi: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (filamentous in males), 9 rays; anal fin 8 or
9 rays; pectoral fins 19–22 rays; caudal fin 10 or 11 rays, middle
2 rays of males with long filaments. Lateral line with 1 branch
in postorbital region of cheek, and lateral lines joined across
nape and top of peduncle. Percentage SL: HL 26–29%, body
depth 12–15%, predorsal length 30–34%, and preanal length
45–53%. Percentage HL: eye diameter 32–45%, snout length
26–33%. Preopercular spine with 3–5 curved points on upper
edge and antrorse spine at base.
Body yellow or whitish above, cream ventrally; 1st dorsal
fin dusky, bases of 2nd–4th membranes each with black blotch;
central part of caudal fin with vertical rows of brown blotches.
Attains 7 cm TL.
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Maldives.
REMARKS Type specimens collected on so bottom, at
73–81 m.
Callionymus delicatulus Smith 1963
Delicate ruddertail dragonet PL ATE 163
Callionymus delicatulus Smith 1963: 557, Fig. 6 (Connan Reef, Mahé,
Seychelles); Fricke 1982, 1983*, 1988*, 1989, 2002; Dor 1984;
Myers1989*; Winterbottom et al. 1989*; Eichler & Lieske 1994 [in part];
Lieske& Myers 1994 [in part]; Myers 1999*.
Pseudocalliurichthys delicatulus: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (1st and 2nd spines filamentous in males;
1st spine shorter than 2nd spine in females), 8 rays; anal
fin 7 rays; pectoral fins 15–17 rays; caudal fin 10 or 11 rays,
middle rays of males elongate and uppermost 5 rays truncated.
Lateral lines with branches on postorbital region and cheeks,
and lateral lines joined across nape only (not across top of
peduncle). Percentage SL: HL 23–29%, body depth 10–16%,
predorsal length 29–35%, and preanal length 50–59%.
Percentage HL: eye diameter 29–37%, snout length 33–48%.
Preopercular spine with 8–15 serrae on upper edge, main tip
straight, and antrorse spine at base.
Head and body cream to yellow, with dark spots on head
and sides; 1st dorsal fin of males with wavy lines and black
spots on 1st and 2nd membranes, fin of females with black
blotch on 3rd membrane. Attains 5 cm SL.
DISTRIBUTION Indo-Pacific. WIO: Red Sea, Madagascar,
Comoros, Seychelles, Chagos and Maldives; elsewhere, Palau,
Australia and Solomon Is.
REMARKS Known from the littoral zone to ~22 m deep.

COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4450
Callionymus erythraeus, 7 cm SL, male, preopercular
spine inset (India). Source: Fricke 1983
Callionymus erythraeus, 7 cm SL, female
(Persian/Arabian Gulf). S ource: Fricke 1983
Callionymus erythraeus Ninni 1934
Smallhead dragonet PL ATE 163
Callionymus erythraeus Ninni 1934: 55, Pl. 13 (Isratu I., Dahlak
Archipelago, Eritrea, Red Sea); Fricke 1980*, 1983*, 1988*; Randall 1997*.
Repomucenus erythraeus: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (2nd–4th spines filamentous in males;
none filamentous in females), 9 rays; anal fin 8 rays; pectoral
fins 17–21 rays; caudal fin 10 rays, without filaments, fin
margin convex. Lateral line with 2 branches in postorbital
region of cheek, and lateral lines joined across nape and top
of peduncle. Percentage SL: HL 20–25%, body depth 8–13%,
predorsal length 30–35%, and preanal length 50–52%.
Percentage HL: eye diameter 33–40%, snout length 31–38%.
Preopercular spine with 3–5 curved points on upper edge,
antrorse spine at base, and ventral margin convex.
Body yellow, brown or grey dorsally, cream ventrally;
dorsum and head with 5 dark brown saddles and numerous
small pale blotches; cheeks of males with ocelli; 1st dorsal fin of
males translucent with numerous white blotches, fin of females
black; caudal fin with 3 bands of brown blotches, distalmost
band ending in lower black blotch. Attains 9 cm TL.
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Red Sea (Eritrea) to Oman, and
Persian/Arabian Gulf to southern India.
REMARKS Found on so bottom, to ~10 m deep.
Callionymus filamentosus Valenciennes 1837
Blotchfin dragonet PL ATE 163
Callionymus filamentosus Valenciennes in Cuv. & Val. 1837: 303, Pl. 359
(Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia); Pfeffer 1893; Regan 1906; Norman 1929,
1939; Ninni 1934*; Smith 1963*, 1966; Fricke 1983*; Kuronuma & Abe
1986*; SSF No. 239.1*; Randall 1995*; Fishelson 1996*; Carpenter et al.
1997*; Manilo & Bogorodsky 2003; Khalaf & Zajonz 2007*; Golani &
Bernardi 2012.
Calliurichthys filamentosus: Chabanaud 1932.
Callionymus stigmapteron Smith 1963: 555, Fig. 4 (Zanzibar, Tanzania).
Repomucenus filamentosus: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (1st spine of males separate and elongate;
1st spine of females connected to 2nd by membrane and not
elongate), 8 or 9 rays; anal fin 9 rays; pectoral fins 17–21 rays;
caudal fin 10 rays, middle 2 rays filamentous in males. Lateral
line with 2 branches in postorbital region of cheek, and lateral
lines joined across nape and top of peduncle. Percentage SL:
HL 20–28%, body depth 9–14%, predorsal length 27–32%, and
preanal length 45–53%. Percentage HL: eye diameter 35–45%,
snout length 23–32%. Preopercular spine with 4–9 points
(serrae) on upper edge, antrorse spine at base, and ventral
margin convex.
Body brown or pale bluish dorsally, covered with small brown
or yellowish brown blotches, cream ventrally; midlateral row of
larger darker brown blotches; rear of head, cheeks and dorsum
with small grey-edged yellow spots; 1st dorsal fin of males with
black stripes or solid black blotch and pale stripes on 3rd and
4th membranes, membranes of females with large black blotch;
caudal fin with large black spots in centre. Attains 15 cm TL.
Callionymus filamentosus, 106 mm TL,
femaleholotype of C. stigmapteron (Zanzibar).
Source: Smith 1963

451FAMILY CALLIONYMIDAE
ORDER PERCIFORMES
DISTRIBUTION Indo-Pacific. WIO: Persian/Arabian Gulf,
Red Sea to Mozambique (Inhaca I.), Madagascar, Seychelles
and southwestern India; Lessepsian migrant to eastern
Mediterranean Sea; elsewhere to Indonesia, Philippines,
Taiwan, New Guinea, Australia and Vanuatu.
REMARKS Found on so bottom, from nearshore to
~350 m deep.
Callionymus flavus Fricke 1983
Yellow ruddertail dragonet
Callionymus (Calliurichthys) flavus Fricke 1983: 360, Fig. 110 (reef at
Jeddah harbour, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea); Fricke 1988*, 1990, 2002.
Dorsal fins 4 spines, 8 rays; anal fin 7 rays; pectoral fins
17–20 rays; caudal fin 10 rays, middle rays of males elongate
and upper 5 rays truncated. Lateral line with single branch
in postorbital region of cheek, and lateral lines joined across
napeand top of peduncle. Percentage SL: HL 23–25%, body
depth 13–14%, predorsal length 28–35%, and preanal length
51–55% SL. Percentage HL: eye diameter 34–40%, snout length
23–32%. Preopercular spine with 5 or 6 points (serrae) on
upper edge, antrorse spine at base, ventral margin concave, and
main tip curved upwards.
Body yellow dorsally, cream ventrally; dorsum and head
with small brown and white spots; cheeks pale; caudal fin of
males with bands of brown blotches in lower half; 1st dorsal fin
of males anteriorly pale, posteriorly dark grey; in females 3rd
and 4th dorsal-fin membranes black, with an anterior black
branch running onto 2nd membrane. Attains 5 cm TL.
Callionymus flavus, 32 mm SL, male holotype, preopercular spine inset
(Red Sea). Source: Fricke 1983
Callionymus flavus, 22 mm SL, female paratype (RedSea).
Source: Fricke 1983
DISTRIBUTION WIO: endemic to Red Sea.
REMARKS Found on silty sand bottom, at 2–46 m.
Callionymus gardineri Regan 1908
Longtail dragonet PL ATE 16 4
Callionymus longicaudatus (non Temminck & Schlegel 1845): Playfair &
Günther 1867; Sauvage 1875.
Callionymus maldivensis Regan 1908: 247, Pl. 30, Fig. 3 (South Nilandu
Atoll, Maldives); Norman 1939.
Callionymus gardineri Regan 1908: 248, Pl. 30, Fig. 5 (St Brandon Shoals);
Nakabo 1979*; Fricke 1983*, 1984, 1988*, 2000, 2002; SSF No. 239.2*;
Manilo & Bogorodsky 2003.
Calliurichthys gardineri: Barnard 1927; Smith 1949; Nakabo 1982.
Callionymus japonicus (non Houttuyn 1782): Smith 1963*; Kotthaus 1977*
[in part].
Callionymus persicus (non Regan 1906): Bayoumi 1972.
Calliurichthys maldivensis: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (1st spine filamentous in males), 9 rays;
anal fin 8 rays; pectoral fins 14–20 rays; caudal fin 9–11 rays,
none filamentous, but fin extremely long, subequal to body
length less HL. Lateral line with 2 or 3 branches in postorbital
region of cheek, and lateral lines joined across nape by single
canal and across top of peduncle by 2 canals. Percentage SL:
HL 24–28%, body depth 9–14%, predorsal length 28–31%, and
preanal length 49–54%. Percentage HL: eye diameter 32–44%,
snout length 24–43%. Preopercular spine with 6–12 points
(serrae) on upper edge, antrorse spine at base, and ventral
margin slightly concave.
Body dark brown dorsally, cream ventrally; black or dark
brown blotches on head, dorsum and caudal fin; anal-fin
margin of males black. Attains 28 cm TL.
Callionymus gardineri, 96 mm SL, male (N Mozambique). Callionymus gardineri, 130 mm SL, male, ventral view
of head (Mozambique). PC Heemstra © NRF-SAIAB

COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4452
Callionymus gardineri, 92 mm SL,
female, preopercular spine inset
(Red Sea). Source: Fricke 1983
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Red Sea, Gulf of Aden to South Africa
(KwaZulu-Natal), Seychelles, St Brandon Shoals and Maldives.
REMARKS Found on sandy and muddy bottom, at
30–180 m.
Callionymus hindsii Richardson 1844
Megamouth dragonet PL ATE 16 4
Callionymus hindsii Richardson 1844: 64, Pl. 37, Figs. 3–4 (Pacific
[probably China or Singapore]); Fricke 1980*, 1983*, 1988* [all as
hindsi]; Randall 1995*; Carpenter et al. 1997*; Fricke 2002; Manilo &
Bogorodsky 2003; Psomadakis et al. 2015.
Callionymus jonesii Lal Mohan 1970: 357, Fig. 1, Pl. 1, Figs. A–B
(Palk Bay, India).
Callionymus sagitta (non Pallas 1770): Kuronuma & Abe 1972*, 1986*.
Dorsal fins 3 spines (1st spine filamentous in males), 9 or
10rays; anal fin 9 rays; pectoral fins 16–19 rays; caudal fin
9–11 rays (none elongate), fin margin convex. Lateral line with2
branches in postorbital region of cheek, and lateral linesjoined
across nape and top of peduncle. Percentage SL: HL 24–29%,
body depth 8–10%, predorsal length 32–38%, and preanal length
52–56%. Percentage HL: eye diameter 29–38%, snout length
29–45%. Jaws extremely protrusile, forming broad tube when
expanded. Preopercular spine with 2–4 curved points on upper
edge, antrorse spine at base, and ventral margin convex.
Body pale brown or yellow dorsally, cream ventrally; head
and dorsum with small dark brown spots, and caudal fin with
small brown spots in centre; 1st dorsal fin of males with black
stripes, fin of females translucent. Attains 9 cm TL.
DISTRIBUTION Indo-Pacific. WIO: Persian/Arabian
Gulf, Oman, Pakistan and southern India; elsewhere to
SouthChinaSea.
REMARKS Found on so bottom, from near shore to
~100 m deep.
Callionymus kotthausi Fricke 1981
Kotthaus’ deepwater dragonet
Callionymus kaianus (non Günther 1880): Alcock 1899.
Diplogrammus indicus Kotthaus 1977: 40, Figs. 423–425 (near Kochi,
India) [secondary homonym of Callionymus indicus Linnaeus 1758
whenplaced in Callionymus].
Callionymus kotthausi Fricke 1981: 363, Fig. 10 (southwest of Kochi, India)
[replacement name for Diplogrammus indicus Kotthaus 1977, secondarily
preoccupied]; Fricke 1983*, 1988*; Manilo & Bogorodsky2003.
Bathycallionymus kotthausi: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (none filamentous, but 1st spine longest),
9 rays; anal fin 9 rays; pectoral fins 20 or 21 rays; caudal fin
10 rays (none filamentous), fin margin convex. Lateral line
with single branch in postorbital region of cheek, and lateral
lines joined across nape and top of peduncle. Percentage SL:
HL ~26%, body depth ~12%, predorsal length 28–30%, and
preanal length 47–53%. Percentage HL: eye diameter ~42%,
snout length ~28%. Preopercular spine with 2 or 3 points on
upper edge (1 or 2 curved, 1 serra), antrorse spine at base, and
main tip long.
Head and body yellowish brown dorsally, cream ventrally,
with midlateral row of triple dark brown blotches; head and
dorsum with dark-edged whitish blotches; cheeks and rear of
head with grey spots; 1st dorsal fin of males with large black
blotch surrounded by white on 2nd and 3rd membranes, fin
of females with large black band bordered above and below by
white bands and extending over first 2 membranes; caudal fin
with 3 or 4 bands of pale brown spots in upper half. Attains
15cm TL.
Callionymus kotthausi, 114 mm SL,
female holotype, preopercular spine
inset (SW India). Source: Fricke 1983

453FAMILY CALLIONYMIDAE
ORDER PERCIFORMES
Callionymus margaretae, 69 mm SL, male, preopercular spine inset (left); 74 mm SL, female (right) (both Bay of Bengal). Source: Fricke 1983
DISTRIBUTION WIO: southwestern India (Malabar coast).
REMARKS Types collected from so bottom, at 138–211 m.
Callionymus margaretae Regan 19 05
Blackfin dragonet
Callionymus margaretae Regan 1905: 326, Pl. 3, Fig. C (Muscat, Oman,
Gulf of Oman); Fricke 1980*, 2000, 2002; Randall 1995*; Carpenter et al.
1997*; Manilo & Bogorodsky 2003; Psomadakis et al. 2015.
Callionymus japonicus (non Houttuyn 1782): Kotthaus 1977 [in part].
Callionymus margaretae margaretae: Fricke 1983*, 1988*.
Calliurichthys margaretae: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (1st spine filamentous in both sexes), 8 or
9 rays; anal fin 8 rays; pectoral fins 16–21 rays; caudal fin 9 or
10 rays (none filamentous). Lateral line with 2 or 3 branches
in postorbital region of cheek, and lateral lines joined across
nape by single canal and across top of peduncle by 2 canals.
Percentage SL: HL 23–29%, body depth 8–14%, predorsal
length 25–33%, and preanal length 48–56%. Percentage HL: eye
diameter 26–44%, snout length 32–50%. Caudal fin very long,
two-fihs (females) to four-fihs (male) of TL. Preopercular
spine with 3–6 points (serrae) on upper edge, antrorse spine at
base, and ventral margin straight or slightly concave.
Head and body dark brown dorsally, cream below, with dark
saddles and small white spots on head and dorsum, and series
of double or single black blotches along lateral line; cheeks of
males with brown spots; 1st dorsal fin with brown spots or lines;
distal half of anal fin black; caudal fin with bands of brown
spots in centre, lower margin of fin black. Attains 18cmTL.
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Somalia, Oman, Persian/Arabian Gulf,
Pakistan and India; elsewhere, Bay of Bengal.
REMARKS Found on so bottom, at 22–107 m.
Callionymus marleyi R egan 1919
Darter dragonet P LATE 164
Callionymus marleyi Regan 1919: 201, Fig. 4 (Durban, KwaZulu-Natal,
South Africa); Barnard 1927; Smith 1949*, 1963*; Day 1974; Fricke
1983*, 1988*, 2002; SSF No. 239.3*; Fischer et al. 1990*; Randall 1995;
Sommer et al. 1996*; Carpenter et al. 1997* [spelt Callionymous];
Manilo& Bogorodsky 2003; Psomadakis et al. 2015.
Repomucenus marleyi: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (1st and 4th spines of males longest;
1stspine of females longest and 4th spine shortest), 9 or 10rays;
anal fin 8 or 9 rays; pectoral fins 17–21 rays; caudal fin 10–12
rays, fin moderate and rounded. Lateral line with 2 branches in
postorbital region of cheek, preopercular branch bifurcate, and
lateral lines joined across nape and top of peduncle. Percentage
SL: HL 20–28%, body depth 9–14%, predorsal length 31–33%,
and preanal length 48–53%. Percentage HL: eye diameter
33–40%, snout length 25–33%. Preopercular spine with 3–7
inwardly curved antrorse points on upper edge, antrorse point at
base, and ventral margin slightly convex.
Juveniles sandy yellow with blue or brown spots and 2 large
red spots on each side of 1st dorsal fin that disappear with age.
Adults yellowish to brown, cream ventrally, with small dark-
edged pale blue spots and smaller brown spots; orange patches
oen present on head; males with alternating black and yellow
stripes on 1st and 4th dorsal-fin spines, and lower edge of
caudal fin black; 1st dorsal fin of females entirely black or with
anterior membranes orange and white. Attains 13 cm TL.
DISTRIBUTION Antitropical in Indian Ocean. WIO: Persian/
Arabian Gulf, southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to northern
Mozambique, South Africa (to False Bay), Madagascar and
southwestern India; elsewhere to east coast of India.
REMARKS Found in muddy bays and on sandy bottom, to
~36 m deep.

COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4454
Callionymus marleyi, 78 mm SL,
male, preopercular spine inset
(Mozambique). Source: Fricke 1983
Callionymus marleyi, 80 mm TL,
female (South Africa).
Source: Smith 1963
Callionymus mascarenus, 49 mm SL,
male holotype (Mauritius).
Source: Fricke 1983
Callionymus mascarenus Fricke 1983
Mauritius dragonet
?Callionymus marleyi (non Regan 1919): Ninni 1934 [in part].
Callionymus mascarenus Fricke 1983: 206, Fig. 60 (Mauritius, Mascarenes);
Fricke 1988*, 2002.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (none filamentous), 9 rays; anal fin
9 rays; pectoral fins 19–21 rays; caudal fin 10 rays (none
filamentous), fin moderate. Lateral line with 2 branches in
postorbital region of cheek, and lateral lines joined across nape
and top of peduncle. Percentage SL: HL 23–25%, body depth
9–11%, predorsal length 29–31%, and preanal length 50–51%.
Percentage HL: eye diameter 35%, snout length 28–30%.
Preopercular spine with 2–4 curved points on upper edge,
antrorse spine at base, and ventral margin convex.
Body brown dorsally, suborbital region darker, and cream
ventrally; 1st dorsal fin of males with black blotch on white
background on 3rd membrane, fin of females with plain black
blotch; upper half of caudal fin spotted, lower margin black.
Attains at least 6.5 cm TL.
DISTRIBUTION Known only from type specimens from
Mauritius.
REMARKS Collected on so bottom near shore.
Callionymus muscatensis Regan 1905
Muscat spiny dragonet PL ATE 16 4
Callionymus muscatensis Regan 1905: 326, Pl. 3c, Fig. 2 (Muscat, Oman,
Gulf of Oman); Fricke 1983*; 1988*, 2002; Randall 1995*; Manilo &
Bogorodsky 2003.
Callionymus spiniceps (non Regan 1908): Kotthaus 1977*.
Spinicapitichthys muscatensis: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (2nd and 3rd spines of males longest,
withfilaments; spines of females subequal, without filaments),
8rays; anal fin 8 rays; pectoral fins 19–23 rays; caudal fin 10rays
(none filamentous), and fin very long, from half body length
(including HL) in females, to body length in males. Lateral line
with single branch in postorbital region, and lateral lines joined
across nape only (not across top of peduncle). Percentage SL:
HL 25–29%, body depth 14–17%, predorsal length 24–30%,
and preanal length 53–58%. Percentage HL: eye diameter
40–50%, snout length 23–30% HL. Head with preorbital spine
and strong occipital protuberance; supraorbital tentacle present.
Preopercular spine with 2–6 serrae on upper edge, 1–3 curved
points on lower edge, and antrorse spine at base.
Head and body brown dorsally, cream ventrally, with
irregular midlateral row of dark brown blotches; head and
dorsum with dark brown saddle-like blotches; cheeks and rear
of head with small brown spots; 1st dorsal fin of males pale with
irregular dark areas, fin of females with large black blotch on
3rd membrane; anal-fin margin brown; caudal fin with bands of
brown blotches on upper two-thirds. Attains 10cmTL.

455FAMILY CALLIONYMIDAE
ORDER PERCIFORMES
Callionymus muscatensis, 40 mmSL,
male,preopercular spine inset
(RedSea). Source: Fricke 1983
Callionymus muscatensis, 40 mm SL, female (Red Sea). Source : Fricke 1983
DISTRIBUTION WIO: southern Red Sea and Gulf of Oman.
REMARKS Type specimens collected from so bottom, at
40–70 m.
Callionymus oxycephalus Fricke 1980
Red Sea spiny dragonet PL ATE 16 4
Callionymus oxycephalus Fricke 1980: 95, Figs. 13–14 (Gulf of Suez, Egypt,
Red Sea); Fricke 1983*, 1988*, 2002.
Spinicapitichthys oxycephalus: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (2nd spine of males longest and
filamentous; 2nd spine of females longest but not filamentous),
8 rays; anal fin 7 or 8 rays; pectoral fins 18–21 rays; caudal
fin 10 rays (none filamentous), and fin very long, from half
body length (including HL) in females, to two-thirds body
length in males. Lateral line with single branch in postorbital
region, and lateral lines joined across nape only (not across
top of peduncle). Percentage SL: HL 25–28%, body depth
19–23%, predorsal length 25–29%, and preanal length 50–56%.
Percentage HL: eye diameter 33–45%, snout length 28–38%.
No supraorbital tentacle. Preopercular spine with 5–10 points
(serrae) on upper edge, 4–9 curved points on lower edge, and
antrorse spine at base.
Head and body grey to lilac dorsally, cream ventrally, with
midlateral row of dark brown blotches on some fish, and
females with clusters of small brown spots; cheeks occasionally
with small grey spots; 1st dorsal fin of males pale with dark
margin and black blotch on 3rd membrane, fin of females
pale with black blotches on 1st and 3rd membranes; caudal
fin sometimes with bands of brown spots on upper half, lower
margin black. Attains 15 cm TL.
DISTRIBUTION WIO: northern Red Sea.
REMARKS Found on so bottom, probably in ~15–80 m
[nodepths given with type series].
Callionymus oxycephalus, 85 mm SL,
male paratype, preopercular spine inset
(Gulf of Suez). Source: Fricke 1983

COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4456
Callionymus persicus, 69 mm SL,
male, preopercular spine inset
(Comoros). So urce: Fricke 1983
Callionymus persicus R egan 1905
Persian dragonet PL ATE 165
Callionymus persicus Regan 1905: 325, Pl. 3c, Fig. 1 (syntypes:
Makrancoast, Persian/Arabian Gulf; Muscat, Oman, Gulf of Oman);
Fricke 1980*, 1983*, 1988*, 2002; Randall & Van Egmond 1994*;
Randall1995*; Carpenter et al. 1997*; Manilo & Bogorodsky 2003.
Callionymus affinis Regan 1908: 248 (South Nilandu Atoll, Maldives).
Calliurichthys persicus: Nakabo 1982.
Calliurichthys affinis: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (none filamentous; first 3 spines of males
long, and 2nd longest; 1st spine of females longest), 9 rays;
anal fin 8 rays; pectoral fins 18–21 rays; caudal fin 9 or 10 rays
(none filamentous), fin elongated in males, subequal to body
length less HL, about half body length in females. Lateral line
with 2 branches in postorbital region of cheek, and lateral
lines joined across nape by single canal and across top of
peduncle by 2 canals. Percentage SL: HL 21–30%, body depth
10–16%, predorsal length 24–33%, and preanal length 48–56%.
Percentage HL: eye diameter 33–44%, snout length 32–37%.
Preopercular spine with 3–7 points (serrae) on upper edge,
antrorse spine at base, and ventral margin slightly concave.
Head and body pale brown dorsally, cream ventrally, with
midlateral row of dark brown blotches; head and dorsum with
dark brown and white spots; cheeks and rear of head with
groups of small brown spots; anal fin with distal black band but
tips of rays white; 1st dorsal fin of males brown with oblique
white lines and black blotch distally on 2nd membrane, fin
of females with large black blotch distally on 3rd membrane;
caudal fin with bands of brown spots in centre, oblique brown
lines above, and lower margin black. Attains 26 cm TL.
Callionymus persicus, 35 mm SL, female (Comoros). Source: Fri cke 1983
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Persian/Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman,
Gulf of Aden, Comoros, Seychelles and Maldives.
REMARKS Found on so bottom, at 15–55 m.
Callionymus regani Nakabo 1979
Regan’s deepwater dragonet PL ATE 165
Callionymus regani Nakabo 1979: 231, Fig. 1a–f (Saya de Malha Bank);
Fricke 1981*, 1983*, 1988*, 2002.
Bathycallionymus regani: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines, 9 rays; anal fin 9 rays; pectoral fins
19–21 rays; caudal fin 9 or 10 rays (none filamentous), fin
moderate and rounded. Lateral line with bifurcate infraorbital
branch in postorbital region; lateral lines joined across nape
and top of peduncle. Percentage SL: HL 24–27%, body depth
11–13%, predorsal length 27–29%, and preanal length 48–51%.
Percentage HL: eye diameter 36–39%, snout length 29–36%.
Preopercular spine with 2 or 3 points (2 curved, 0 or 1 serra)
on upper edge, anteriormost smallest and directed inwards.
Head with numerous brown blotches encircled with darker
brown, dorsum brownish grey to sepia, and abdomen pale;
pectoral-fin bases with large black blotch (in both sexes);
1st dorsal fin with black blotch mainly on 3rd membrane,
anterior membranes dusky in adults but with yellowish stripes
in juveniles; 2nd dorsal fin of adults with purplish ocelli and
yellow patches; anal-fin margin of adult males black; juveniles
with yellow stripes or spots on body. Attains 23 cm TL.
Callionymus regani, 178 mm SL, preopercular spine inset (South Africa).

457FAMILY CALLIONYMIDAE
ORDER PERCIFORMES
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Mozambique, South Africa (KwaZulu-
Natal) and Saya de Malha Bank.
REMARKS Rare; found on so bottom, at 126–260 m.
Callionymus spiniceps Regan 1908
Seychelles spiny dragonet PL ATE 165
Callionymus spiniceps Regan 1908: 249, Pl. 30, Fig. 4 (Amirante Is.,
Seychelles); Smith 1963*; Smith & Smith 1963*; Nakabo 1979*;
Fricke1983*, 1988*, 2002.
Spinicapitichthys spiniceps: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (1st spine filamentous), 8 or 9 rays;
anal fin 8 rays; pectoral fins 20–23 rays; caudal fin 10 rays,
middle 4rays filamentous in males. Lateral line with 2 short
branches in postorbital region of cheek, and lateral lines joined
across nape and top of peduncle. Percentage SL: HL 26–28%,
body depth 14%, predorsal length 26–27%, and preanal
length 50–53%. Percentage HL: eye diameter 29–42%, snout
length 25–31%. Head with numerous spines along upper
jaw and in preorbital and postorbital regions; supraorbital
tentaclepresent. Preopercular spine with 8–15 points (serrae)
on upper edge, 5–9 points (serrae) on lower edge, and antrorse
spine at base.
Head and body brown dorsally, pale cream ventrally, with
midlateral row of dark brown blotches; cheeks, rear of head
and sides of body with numerous small brown spots; 1st dorsal
fin with black blotch on 3rd membrane; anal fin of males with
distal black band; caudal fin with bands of dark brown spots,
most distinct on upper half. Attains 19 cm TL.
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Seychelles (Amirante Is.) to Saya de
Malha Bank.
REMARKS Found on so bottom, in ~60–100 m.
Callionymus stigmatopareius Fricke 1981
Mozambique dragonet
Callionymus stigmatopareius Fricke 1981: 161, Pl., Figs. 1–2 (Lumbo,
Mozambique); Fricke 1983*, 1988*, 2002.
Paradiplogrammus stigmatopareius: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (none filamentous; 1st spine of male
longest), 8 rays, spinous dorsal fin high; anal fin 7 rays, distal
margin of fin convex; pectoral fins 17 rays; caudal fin 9 rays
(none filamentous), fin moderate. Lateral line with 2 branches
in postorbital region of cheek, and lateral lines joined across
nape and top of peduncle. Percentage SL: HL 24%, body depth
14%, predorsal length 29%, and preanal length 50%. Percentage
HL: eye diameter 33%, snout length 29%. Preopercular spine
with 5 curved points on upper edge and antrorse spine at base.
Male: head and body dark brown dorsally, cream ventrally,
with short black streaks below lateral line; cheeks and rear of
head with small black spots; 1st dorsal fin black, with white
spots distally on 1st membrane; anal fin black; caudal fin with
bars of dark brown blotches. Attains at least 8 cm TL.
Callionymus stigmatopareius, 62 mm SL, male holotype, preopercular
spine inset (Mozambique). Source: Fricke 1983
DISTRIBUTION Known only from the holotype from
Mozambique.
REMARKS Probably collected in shallow water.
Callionymus spiniceps, 154 mm TL,
holotype, preopercular spine inset
(Seychelles). Source: Rega n 1908

COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4458
Callionymus tenuis Fricke 1981
Tiny dragonet
Callionymus (Calliurichthys) tenuis Fricke 1981: 387, Fig. 1 (South Nilandu
Atoll, Maldives); Fricke 1983*, 1988*, 2002.
Pseudocalliurichthys tenuis: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (none filamentous), 8 rays; anal fin 8 rays;
pectoral fins 18–20 rays; caudal fin 11 rays, fin moderate.
Lateral line with single branch in postorbital region, and lateral
lines joined across nape and top of peduncle. Percentage SL:
HL 30%, body depth 14%, predorsal length 37%, and preanal
length 50%. Percentage HL: eye diameter 44%, snout length
36%. Preopercular spine with 4 points (serrae) on upper edge,
antrorse spine at base, and ventral margin slightly concave.
Head and body yellowish dorsally, cream ventrally;
1stdorsal fin translucent, 3rd membrane dusky with dark
spots; caudal fin pale. Attains at least 25 mm TL.
Callionymus tenuis, 18 mm SL, holotype, preopercular spine inset
(Maldives). Source: Fricke 1983
DISTRIBUTION Known only from the holotype from
Maldives.
REMARKS Collected on sandy bottom, in <60 m.
GENUS Diplogrammus Gill 1865
Body with lateral skin fold below lateral line; anal-fin rays
unbranched. Occur in Indo-Pacific; 7 species, 5 in WIO.
Genusreviewed by Fricke (1983), and Red Sea species by
Fricke et al. (2014).
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Opercle with free flap of skin ........................................ 2
1b Opercle without free flap of skin [Gulf of Suez and
Suez Canal] ..................................................... D. gruveli
2a Preopercular spine with 3 or 4 curved spinules on upper
edgein addition to main tip ........................................ 3
Continued …
KEY TO SPECIES
2b Preopercular spine with 5–9 curved spinules on upper
edge in addition to main tip ........................................ 5
3a Main tip of preopercular spine nearly straight; 1st spine of
dorsal fin of males barely filamentous, subequal to 1st ray
[northern Red Sea] .................................. D. randalli [males]
3b Main tip of preopercular spine curved upwards; 1st spine of
dorsal fin of males longer than 1st ray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4a Length of 2nd spine of dorsal fin of males subequal to 1st
and 3rd spines, or longer than 1st spine; anal fin of males
pale with black spots distally, fin of females entirely black;
caudal fin rounded [Persian/Arabian Gulf and southern coast
ArabianPeninsula] ........................................ D. pygmaeus
4b Length of 1st spine of dorsal fin of males longer than
2ndand3rd spines; anal fin of males with outer third black,
fin of females pale with black margin; caudal fin pointed
[centraland southern Red Sea] ........................ D. paucispinis
5a First spine of dorsal fin strongly filamentous in males, and
significantly longer than 1st ray; main tip of preopercular
spinecurved upwards; anal fin of females pale; head and
bodyof males with numerous blue spots and streaks [Gulf of
Sinai to southern Red Sea, East Africa, and throughout islands
of WIO] ....................................................... D. infulatus
5b First spine of dorsal fin barely filamentous in males, and not
much longer than 1st ray; main tip of preopercular point
straight; anal fin of females with narrow black streak near
margin; head and body of males with irregular brown and
white spots, no blue spots and streaks [northern Red Sea] ......
.......................................................... D. randalli [IN PART]
5a 5b
Diplogrammus gruveli Smith 1963
Slender dragonet PL ATE 165
Diplogrammus goramensis (non Bleeker 1858): Chabanaud 1932*;
Gruvel & Chabanaud 1937.
Diplogrammus (Diplogrammoides) gruveli Smith 1963: 551, Fig. 2
(GreatBitter Lake, Suez Canal, Red Sea); Fricke 1983*, 1988*;
Fricke et al. 2014*.
Dorsal fins 3 or 4 spines (elongate in males), 7–9 rays; anal
fin 6 or 7 rays; pectoral fins 16 or 17 rays; caudal fin 10 or
11rays, fin rounded. Lateral line with 2 branches in postorbital
region, and lateral lines joined across nape only (not across
top of peduncle). Percentage SL: HL 23–25%, body depth
12–13%, predorsal length 31–33%, and preanal length 50–56%.

459FAMILY CALLIONYMIDAE
ORDER PERCIFORMES
Percentage HL: eye diameter 29–45%, snout length 25–33%.
Preopercular spine straight, with 4–6 small inwardly curved
points on upper edge, and antrorse spine at base.
Head and body dark brown dorsally, cream ventrally;
ventrolateral fold marked alternately black and white; dorsum
with pale blotches; cheeks, rear of head, pelvic fins and caudal
fin with numerous blue ocelli; 1st dorsal fin of males pale, with
dusky spots; anal fin distally dusky. Attains 62 mm TL.
Diplogrammus gruveli, 62 mm TL, holotype (Suez Canal). Source: Smi th 1963
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Suez Canal and Gulf of Suez.
Diplogrammus infulatus Smith 1963
Sawspine dragonet PL ATE 16 6
Diplogrammus (Climacogrammus) infulatus Smith 1963: 550, Pl. 83,
Figs.E–I (Inhaca I., Mozambique); Fricke 1983*; Heemstra et al. 2004.
Diplogrammus infulatus: Fourmanoir & Crosnier 1964*; SSF No. 239.4*;
Fricke 1988*; Debelius 1993*, 1999*; Fricke et al. 2013; Fricke et al.
2014*; Fricke et al. 2016*.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (1st spine filamentous in males), 8 rays;
anal fin 7 rays; pectoral fins 18–20 rays; caudal fin 10 or
11rays, fin rounded. Lateral line with 2 branches in postorbital
region, anteriormost bifurcate, and lateral lines joined across
nape and in front of eyes but not across top of peduncle; lateral
line on body with numerous short dorsal and ventral branches.
Percentage SL: HL 23–27%, body depth 12–16%, predorsal
length 28–31%, and preanal length 48–56%. Percentage HL:
eye diameter 30–42%, snout length 25–28%. Preopercular
spine straight or gently bowed, with main tip curved upwards,
and with 3–9 inwardly curved points on upper edge and small
antrorse spine at base.
Females with sandy yellow to golden blotches dorsally; pale
silvery blue spots midlaterally, interspersed with a few reddish
blotches, and series of squarish brown blotches on sides; pelvic
fins bluish distally. Males with golden and brown blotches
dorsally; head also with blue and green streaks and spots; fins
hyaline golden green, with deep blue spots and wavy lines,
except pectoral fins pinkish with brown or bluish spots. Attains
12 cm TL.
Diplogrammus infulatus, 80 mm TL, male (Red Sea); preopercular spine
(inset) from 90-mm-TL male holotype (Mauritius).
© JE Randall, Bishop M useum. Inset source: Smith 1963
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Red Sea to Mozambique (Maputo
Bay), Europa I. (Mozambique Channel), Madagascar, Aldabra,
Seychelles, Réunion and Mauritius.
REMARKS Found from tidepools and subtidal zone to
~20 m deep.
Diplogrammus paucispinis
Fricke & Bogorodsky 2014
Saudi Arabian dragonet PLATE 16 6
Diplogrammus paucispinis Fricke & Bogorodsky in Fricke et al. 2014: 15,
Figs. 1, 6, 7, 11 (south of Al Wajh, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea).
Dorsal fins 4 spines, 8 rays; anal fin 7 rays; pectoral fins 18 or
19 rays; caudal fin 10 rays, fin moderate and slightly pointed.
Lateral line with 2 branches in postorbital region, and lateral
lines joined across nape and in front of eyes but not across top
of peduncle; lateral line on body with numerous short dorsal
and ventral branches. Percentage SL: HL 26–29%, body depth
11–13%, predorsal length 29–32%, and preanal length 50–53%.
Percentage HL: eye diameter 31–40%, snout length 28–33%.
Preopercular spine with 3 or 4 curved points on upper edge
and small antrorse spine at base.
Head and body cream, belly white; sides with row of dark
spots; 1st dorsal fin of males cream, with irregular rows of
yellow mottling, brownish yellow distally; 1st dorsal fin of
females with 1st membrane cream, 2nd–4th membranes dark
grey; anal fin of males with outer third black, fin of females
with black margin; caudal fin cream, with brown and white
spots at base, and yellow spots and blotches distally. Attains at
least 45 mm TL.
DISTRIBUTION Known only from type specimens collected
in Red Sea
REMARKS Taken from sand bottom close to fringing reef,
at~4 m.

COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4460
Diplogrammus pygmaeus Fricke 1981
Pygmy dragonet PL ATE 16 6
Callionymus sp.: Norman 1939.
Diplogrammus (Climacogrammus) pygmaeus Fricke 1981: 685, Figs. 1–2
(southern Arabian coast [Oman]); Fricke 1983.
Diplogrammus pygmaeus: Fricke 1988*, 2002; Randall 1995*;
Carpenter et al. 1997*; Manilo & Bogorodsky 2003; Fricke et al. 2014*.
Dorsal fins 4 spines, 8 rays; anal fin 7 rays; pectoral fins 20 rays;
caudal fin 10 rays, fin moderate and rounded. Lateral line with
2 branches in postorbital region, and lateral lines joined across
nape and in front of eyes but not across top of peduncle; lateral
line on body with numerous short dorsal and ventral branches.
Percentage SL: HL 27–29%, body depth 17–18%, predorsal
length 31–33%, and preanal length 50–53%. Percentage HL:
eye diameter 38–42%, snout length 30–32%. Preopercular
spine with 3 or 4 curved points on upper edge and small
antrorse spine at base.
Head and body pale brown dorsally, darker brown
below, belly creamy white; head with dark suborbital streak;
midlateral row of dark brown blotches; pectoral-fin bases with
dark blotch; 1st dorsal fin of males grey distally, with black
spots on 3rd membrane; 1st dorsal fin of females pale on 1st
and 2nd membranes, grey on 3rd and 4th membranes, but
with black blotch distally on 3rd membrane; anal fin with distal
black spots in males, fin entirely black in females; caudal fin
with 3 or 4 dark bars on lower part. Attains ~40 mm TL.
Diplogrammus pygmaeus, 20 mm SL, male paratype, preopercular spine
inset (Oman). Source: Fricke 1983
Diplogrammus pygmaeus, 20 mm SL, female holotype (Oman).
Source: Fricke 1983
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Oman to Persian/Arabian Gulf.
REMARKS Found on shallow, so bottom; type specimens
collected at ~13.5 m.
Diplogrammus randalli Fricke 1983
Randall’s fold dragonet PLATE 16 6
Diplogrammus (Climacogrammus) randalli Fricke 1983: 518, Fig. 155
(Eilat, Israel, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea).
Diplogrammus randalli: Fricke 1988, 2002; Fricke et al. 2014*.
Dorsal fins 4 spines, 7 or 8 rays; anal fin 6 or 7 rays; pectoral
fins 17–22 rays; caudal fin 9 or 10 rays, fin moderate and
rounded. Lateral line with 2 branches in postorbital region
of cheek, and lateral lines joined across nape and in front of
eyes but not across top of peduncle; lateral line on body with
numerous short dorsal and ventral branches. Percentage SL:
HL 21–29%, body depth 10–14%, predorsal length 23–34%,
and preanal length 49–54%. Percentage HL: eye diameter
28–36%, snout length 33–38%. Preopercular spine with 3–7
curved points on upper edge, small antrorse spine at base, and
main tip straight.
Head and body pale brown to yellowish dorsally, cream
ventrally, with midlateral row of small dark brown blotches;
head and dorsum with dark brown and whitish blotches;
cheeks and rear of head with irregular brown streaks; 1st dorsal
fin pale with brown lines; anal fin pale with black margin;
lower part of caudal fin with dark bars formed by brown spots.
Attains 75 mm TL.
Diplogrammus randalli, 40 mm SL, male holotype, preopercular spine
inset (Red Sea). Source: Fricke 1983
Diplogrammus randalli, 57 mm SL, female paratype, preopercular spine
inset (Red Sea). Source: Fricke 1983

461FAMILY CALLIONYMIDAE
ORDER PERCIFORMES
DISTRIBUTION WIO: northern Red Sea.
REMARKS Found on shallow, sand bottom.
GENUS Draculo S nyde r 1911
Upper margin of lower lip with row of erect fleshy papillae.
Occur in Indo-Pacific; 5 species, 2 in WIO. Reviewed by
Fricke(1983).
KEY TO SPECIES
1a First dorsal fin comprised of 1 spine (= 2 slender spines
bound together by skin); 2nd dorsal fin with 11 rays; anal fin
12branched rays ............................................. D. celetus
1b First dorsal fin with 4 spines; 2nd dorsal fin with 9 or 10 rays;
anal fin 10 branched rays ................................... D. maugei
Draculo celetus (Smith 1963)
Dainty dragonet PLAT E 166
Charibarbitus celetus Smith 1963: 562, Fig. 8 (Inhaca I., Mozambique);
Christensen 1977*.
Eleutherochir celetus: Nakabo 1982.
Draculo celetus: Fricke 1983*, 1988*, 2002; SSF No. 239.5*.
Dorsal fins 1 spine (longer in males than in females),
11unbranched rays; anal fin 12 rays; pectoral fins
19–22 rays; caudal fin 10 rays, fin slightly rounded. Lateral line
with 2 branches in postorbital region, posteriormost branch
extending to lower jaw, and lateral lines joined across nape and
top of peduncle. Lower lip with row of 16–20 simple papillae.
Percentage SL: HL 23–28%, body depth 11–15%, predorsal
length 31–33%, and preanal length 48–53%. Percentage HL:
eye diameter 31–36%, snout length 24–29%. Preopercular
spine with 2 or 3 points on upper edge before main tip, and no
antrorse spine at base.
Body uniformly buff or pale pinkish, with diffuse orange
blotches and rosettes dorsally, and abdomen silvery; head with
rosettes of melanophores dorsally; 2nd dorsal fin and anal fin
cream, with orange spot at base of each ray; eyes silvery with
orange tinge on upper part. Attains at least 4.5 cm TL.
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Mozambique (Inhaca I.) to
SouthAfrica (False Bay).
REMARKS Rare; known from tidepools, and rocky or sandy
subtidal areas.
Draculo maugei (Smith 1966)
Clathropus maugei Smith 1966: 323, Fig. 1 (northwest of Toliara,
Madagascar).
Draculo maugei: Fricke 1983*, 1988*, 2002.
Dorsal fins 4 spines, 9 or 10 rays; anal fin 10 rays; pectoral
fins 20 or 21 rays; caudal fin 11 rays, fin rounded. All dorsal-
and anal-fin rays unbranched. Lateral line with 2 branches in
postorbital region, posteriormost branch extending to lower
jaw, and lateral lines joined across nape and top of peduncle.
Lower lip with ~22 papillae. Percentage SL: HL 21–22%, body
depth 10–13%, predorsal length 28–33%, and preanal length
44–48%. Percentage HL: eye diameter 28–36%, snout length
25–30%. Preopercular spine with 2 points on upper edge
(anteriormost smaller) and main tip strongly curved upwards;
no antrorse spine at base.
Preserved specimens with dense patches of melanophores
on sides of body and top of head, and 1st dorsal fin black.
Attains 55 mm TL.
DISTRIBUTION Known only from five type specimens from
Madagascar.
REMARKS Collected along sandy beach in ~1 m.
Draculo celetus, 34 mm TL, holotype of
Charibarbitus celetus, preopercular spine and
anterior head inset (S Mozambique).
Source: Smith 1963

COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4462
Draculo maugei, 55 mm TL, female holotype,
lateral and dorsal views, anterior head and
preopercular spine inset (Madagascar).
Source: Smith 1966
GENUS Paracallionymus Barnard 1927
Diagnosis as for the single species. Reviewed by Fricke (1983).
Paracallionymus costatus (Boulenger 1898)
Ladder dragonet PL ATE 166
Callionymus costatus Boulenger 1898: 4 [9] (off Cape St Blaize,
SouthAfrica).
Paracallionymus costatus: Barnard 1927*; SFSA No. 392*; Smith 1963*;
Dayet al. 1970; Fricke 1983, 1988*, 2002; SSF No. 239.6*.
Paracallionymus fowleri Poll 1949: 240, Fig. 15 (Africa [Namibia]);
Fricke1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (elongate and filamentous in males, and
2nd spine subequal to body length in large males; females
without filamentous spines, and 1st spine longest and subequal
to eye diameter), 9 or 10 rays; anal fin 9 rays; pectoral fins
19–23 rays; caudal fin 10 rays, middle ray elongate in males,
and fin longer than head. All dorsal- and anal-fin rays
unbranched. Lateral line with 2 branches in postorbital region
of cheek; lateral lines joined across nape by single canal and
across top of peduncle by 2 canals; lateral line on body with
numerous long dorsal and ventral branches. Percentage SL:
HL 22–27%, body depth 11–14%, predorsal length 28–33%,
and preanal length 46–52%. Percentage HL: eye diameter
33–45%, snout length 26–33%. Preopercular spine simple and
tip curved upwards (no points on upper edge and no antrorse
spine at base).
Adults uniformly dusky brown dorsally, cream ventrally;
1st dorsal fin membranes black (except frequently not first
membrane). Juveniles with yellow blotches and swathes on
sides and fins, except anal-fin margin black. Attains 19 cm TL.
DISTRIBUTION Southern Africa: Namibia (Lüderitz) in
southeastern Atlantic, to Mozambique (Maputo Bay) in WIO.
REMARKS Found at 37–457 m. e colour painting in Smith
(1949, 1965; duplicated in SSF No. 239.6, Pl. 121), showing the
body and fins as mostly yellow in a large male, was based on
notes and is erroneous, as is the count of 13 caudal-fin rays.
GENUS Synchiropus Gill 1859
Snout shorter than eye diameter; dorsal-fin rays branched
(infish >3 cm TL); preopercular spine without antrorse spine
at base. Review and checklists in Fricke (1981, 2002). Occur
in temperate to tropical regions of all three major oceans;
about55 species, 7 in WIO.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Anal-fin rays unbranched (last divided at base) ................. 2
1b Anal-fin rays branched (last divided at base) ..................... 5
2a Caudal-fin length 25–32% SL ....................................... 3
2b Caudal-fin length 33–40% SL ........................ S. monacanthus
3a Pectoral-fin base with large black blotch; 2nd dorsal fin with
oblique rows of ocellated black spots ................ S. tudorjonesi
3b Pectoral-fin base without large black blotch; 2nd dorsal fin
paleor with narrow streaks .......................................... 4
4a Dorsal-fin spines of males filamentous; no black spots on lower
part of pectoral-fin base ................................... S. postulus
4b Dorsal-fin spines of males not filamentous; black spot present
on lower part of pectoral-fin base ...................... S. minutulus
Continued …

463FAMILY CALLIONYMIDAE
ORDER PERCIFORMES
KEY TO SPECIES
5a Preopercular spine with 1 point on upper edge in addition to
main tip .......................................................S. stellatus
5b Preopercular spine with 2 points on upper edge in addition
tomain tip .............................................................. 6
6a Main tip of preopercular spine straight, no small antrorse
spines at base; 1st dorsal fin dark and striped ...... S. marmoratus
6b Main tip of preopercular spine curved upwards, and spine
usually with 1 or 2 small antrorse points at base; 1st dorsal fin
pale with dark blotches ................................ S. sechellensis
Synchiropus marmoratus (Peters 1855)
Marbled dragonet PLAT E 167
Callionymus marmoratus Peters 1855: 446 (Mozambique); Barnard 1927;
Smith 1949*.
Callionymus elegans Bianconi 1858: 52 (Mozambique) [primary homonym
of Callionymus elegans Lesueur 1814; subsequently redescribed as
Callionymus perelegans Bianconi 1858].
Callionymus perelegans Bianconi 1858: 437, Fig. (Mozambique).
Callionymus caeruleomaculatus Jatzow & Lenz 1898: 510, Pl. 35, Fig. 6
(Zanzibar, Tanzania).
Synchiropus marmoratus: Smith 1963*; Fricke 1981*, 1983*, 1988*, 2002;
SSF No. 239.7*.
Neosynchiropus bacescui Nalbant 1979: 349, Figs. 1–5
(Dar es Salaam, Tanzania).
Neosynchiropus marmoratus: Nakabo 1982; Heemstra & Heemstra 2004.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (spines filamentous in males, almost twice
HL; 1st dorsal fin of females lower than 2nd), 7 or 8 rays;
anal fin 6–8 rays; pectoral fins 18–22 rays; caudal fin 10 or
11rays, fin large, longer and deeper in males than in females.
All dorsal- and anal-fin rays branched. Lateral line on body
bifurcate and joined across nape, with 1 branch running to
behind eye, but lateral lines not joined across top of peduncle.
Percentage SL: HL 24–33%, body depth 15–22%, predorsal
length 25–30%, and preanal length 50–59%. Percentage HL:
eye diameter 31–44%, snout length 22–35%. Preopercular
spine with main tip curved upwards and with 2 additional
points on upper edge; no antrorse spine at base.
Both sexes vividly coloured and variably marbled: males
mostly greenish black with blue and orange spots and mottling,
to reddish with white and orange mottling; 1st dorsal fin of
females dark, striped; pectoral fins and pelvic-fin margins
orange to red, with white or black spots. Attains 13 cm TL.
Synchiropus marmoratus, 94 mm SL, male, preopercular spine inset
(Zanzibar). Source: Fricke 1983
Synchiropus marmoratus, 52 mm SL, female (Zanzibar). Source: Fr icke 1983
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Tanzania, including Zanzibar, to
Mozambique (Maputo Bay).
REMARKS Found in estuaries and littoral areas, in seagrass
beds, and on coral reefs.
Synchiropus minutulus Fricke 1981
Minute flagfin dragonet PL ATE 167
Synchiropus minutulus Fricke 1981: 119, Fig. 38 (southwest of Mafilifleuri,
Maldives); Fricke 1983*, 1988*, 2002; Winterbottom et al. 1989*.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (1st dorsal fin of males high, without
filaments, and 3rd spine longest), 9 rays; anal fin 8 rays;
pectoralfins 19 rays; caudal fin 10 or 11 rays, fin rounded.
All dorsal- and anal-fin rays unbranched. Lateral line with
2branches in postorbital region of cheek, and lateral lines joined
across nape and top of peduncle. Percentage SL: HL26–31%,

COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4464
body depth 17–18%, predorsal length 33–36%, and preanal
length 49–53%. Percentage HL: eye diameter 31–40%, snout
length 28–29%. Preopercular spine with 3curved points on
upper edge.
Body yellowish brown dorsally, cream ventrally; 1st dorsal
fin of males grey distally; black spot at lower part of pectoral-
fin base; caudal fin with dark bars. Attains at least 23 mm SL.
Synchiropus minutulus, 14 mm SL, male holotype, preopercular spine
inset (Maldives). Source: Fricke 1983
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Chagos and Maldives.
REMARKS Found on sand patches of coral reefs, from
nearshore to ~10 m deep.
Synchiropus monacanthus Smith 1935
Deepwater dragonet PL ATE 167
Synchiropus monacanthus Smith 1935: 187 (Port Alfred, Eastern Cape,
South Africa); Smith 1949*, 1963*; Kotthaus 1977; Fricke 1981*, 1983*,
1988*, 2002; SSF No. 239.8*; Manilo & Bogorodsky 2003;
Anderson et al. 2005.
Callionymus bicornis Norman 1939: 74, Fig. 26 (near Zanzibar, Tanzania).
Callionymidae sp.: Kotthaus 1977*.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (spines 1–2 of males elongate), 8 rays;
anal fin 7 rays; pectoral fins 19–21 rays; caudal fin 10–12 rays,
fin large and slightly rounded. Lateral line bifurcate on nape,
with one branch connected to other side and the other branch
running to behind eye; no branches across top of peduncle.
Percentage SL: HL 26–32%, body depth 15–18%, predorsal
length 28–35%, and preanal length 45–56%. Percentage HL:
eye diameter 31–45%, snout length 11–20%. Preopercular
spine with main tip curved upwards and with 1 antrorse point
on upper edge; no antrorse spine at base.
Body with reddish brown to dark brown mottling dorsally,
pale pinkish ventrally; dark brown margins on 2nd dorsal fin,
caudal fin, anal fin and pelvic fins in both sexes; 1st dorsal fin
of males obliquely banded, fin of females with proximal band
only. Attains 21 cm TL.
Synchiropus monacanthus, 92 mm TL, holotype of Callionymus bicornis.
Source: Nor man 1939
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Socotra, Tanzania (Zanzibar),
Mozambique to South Africa (Eastern Cape) and Madagascar.
REMARKS Found on so bottom, at 175–549 m.
Synchiropus postulus Smith 1963
Dwarf dragonet
Synchiropus postulus Smith 1963: 560, Fig. 7, Pl. 86e (Ibo I., Mozambique);
Fricke 1981*, 1983*, 1988*, 2002; SSF No. 239.9*.
Minysynchiropus laddi (non Schultz 1960): Nakabo 1982 [in part].
Dorsal fins 4 spines (spines of males elongate, filamentous;
1stdorsal fin of females lower than 2nd), 9 rays; anal fin 8 rays;
pectoral fins 20 or 21 rays; caudal fin 10 or 11 rays, fin slightly
rounded. Lateral line on head with branches on postorbital
region and cheek, and lateral lines joined across nape only
(not across top of peduncle). Percentage SL: HL 23–30%, body
depth 18–23%, predorsal length 29–37%, and preanal length
55–59%. Percentage HL: eye diameter 33–44%, snout length
23–30%. Preopercular spine with 3–5 points on upper edge
and main tip curved upwards; no antrorse spine at base.
Preserved specimens brown with darker saddles and
blotches on sides; 1st dorsal fin darkly banded in males,
without banding in females. Attains <30 mm TL.

465FAMILY CALLIONYMIDAE
ORDER PERCIFORMES
Synchiropus postulus, 25 mm TL, female holotype (top) (N Mozambique);
25 mm TL, male (bottom) (Aldabra). Source: Sm ith 1963
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Oman, Tanzania to South Africa
(Sodwana Bay), Aldabra and Mauritius.
REMARKS Found in tidepools and on coral reefs, to
~12 m deep.
Synchiropus sechellensis R egan 1908
Seychelles dragonet PL ATES 167 & 168
Synchiropus sechellensis Regan 1908: 249, Pl. 30, Fig. 1 (Seychelles);
Smith1963*; Smith & Smith 1963*; Kotthaus 1977*; Fricke 1981*, 1983*,
1988*, 2000; Manilo & Bogorodsky 2003.
Synchiropus altivelis Regan 1908: 249, Pl. 30, Fig. 2 (Seychelles)
[secondaryhomonym of Synchiropus altivelis (Temminck & Schlegel
1845)]; Norman1939*.
Neosynchiropus sechellensis: Nakabo 1982.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (1st spine filamentous in both sexes),
8rays; anal fin 6 or 7 rays; pectoral fins 18–23 rays; caudal
fin 9–11 rays, fin longer and deeper in males than in females.
Lateral line with 2 branches in postorbital region of cheek, and
lateral lines joined across nape and top of peduncle. Percentage
SL: HL 27–33%, body depth 18–20%, predorsal length
25–32%, and preanal length 53–59%. Percentage HL: eye
diameter 28–45%, snout length 33–37%. Preopercular spine
with main tip curved upwards and with 2 additional curved
points on upper edge, and 0–2 antrorse spines at base.
Head and body rose-pink or red-orange, white ventrally,
with irregular broad red bars and narrower white blotches;
1st dorsal fin of males with small brown ocelli, fin of females
alternatively spotted with black and white and membranes
2–4 pale; caudal fin with 2 red-orange bars. Attains 11 cm TL.
Synchiropus sechellensis, 55 mm TL (Seychelles). Source: R egan 1908
DISTRIBUTION Indo-Pacific. WIO: Red Sea (including
Gulf of Suez) to Somalia, Seychelles and Maldives; Lessepsian
migrant to eastern Mediterranean Sea; elsewhere to Indonesia
and NewCaledonia.
REMARKS Known from so bottom, in 37–68 m.
Synchiropus stellatus Smith 1963
Starry dragonet PL ATE 16 8
Synchiropus stellatus Smith 1963: 559, Pl. 85, Figs. A–B (Pinda,
Mozambique); Fricke 1981*, 1983*, 1988*, 2002; SSF No. 239.10*;
Allen& Steene 1987*, 1994; Randall 1992*, 1995*; Debelius 1993*,
1999*; Eichler & Lieske 1994*; Randall & Egmond 1994*; Kuiter 1998*;
Manilo& Bogorodsky 2003; Fricke et al. 2009.
Synchiropus marmoratus (non Peters 1855): Allen & Steene 1987*.
Neosynchiropus stellatus: Heemstra & Heemstra 2004*.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (1st dorsal fin of males high and spines
filamentous; 1st dorsal fin of females lower than 2nd), 8rays;
anal fin 7 rays; pectoral fins 19–24 rays; caudal fin 10or
11rays, fin slightly rounded. Lateral lines on head with
branches on postorbital region and cheek, and a branch
connecting across nape; no branch across top of peduncle.
Percentage SL: HL 27–34%, body depth 16–19%, predorsal
length 26–30%, and preanal length 52–57%. Percentage HL:
eye diameter 36–45%, snout length 18–20%. Preopercular

COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4466
spine with main tip curved upwards and with 1 additional
point on upper edge; no antrorse spine at base.
Body mottled pink or golden brown with stellate blotches
ofred or brownish red, and silvery to white ventrally; tiny
black blotches mostly on head and fins; 1st dorsal fin of males
with wavy black lines and ocelli, fin of females mostly black
with white margin; anal fin of males mostly black, fin of
females with red blotches; caudal fin pale bluish white, with
redor orange blotches forming bars. Attains 80 mm TL.
Synchiropus stellatus, 37 mm SL, preopercular spine inset
(SMozambique). PC Heemstra © NRF-SAIAB
DISTRIBUTION Indian Ocean. WIO: northern Mozambique
(Ibo I.) to South Africa (Aliwal Shoal), Seychelles, Mauritius,
Maldives and Sri Lanka; elsewhere to western Indonesia.
REMARKS Found in seagrass beds of littoral areas and near
reefs, at 5–40 m.
Synchiropus tudorjonesi Allen & Erdmann 2012
Redback dragonet PL ATE 16 8
Synchiropus tudorjonesi Allen & Erdmann 2012: 10 (Cenderawasih Bay,
West Papua Province, Indonesia); Tea & Gill 2016.
Dorsal fins 4 spines (higher in males), 8 rays; anal fin
6–7rays; pectoral fins 19–21 rays; caudal fin 8–9 rays, fin
large and slightly rounded. Lateral line bifurcate on nape,
with one branchconnected to other side and the other branch
running to behind eye; no branches across top of peduncle.
PercentageSL: HL 30–36%, body depth 21–22%, predorsal
length 34–40%, and preanal length 59–63%. Percentage HL:
eye diameter 38–42%, snout length 23–27%. Preopercular
spine with main tip very small, curved upwards and with
usually 1 (rarely 2–3) curved spinules on upper edge; no
antrorse spine at base.
Body bright red with black pectoral-fin base, diffuse
blackish zone on ventral half of side punctuated by
variable-sized white spots; male with moderately elevated
spinous dorsal fin with four black oblique bands, alternating
with narrower bands of yellow and blue; female with shorter,
mainly black spinous dorsal fin. Attains 50 mm TL.
DISTRIBUTION WIO: Maldives; elsewhere, east to western
New Guinea (West Papua, Indonesia), north to southern Japan.
REMARKS Found in coral reefs with scattered corals and
sponges, at 50–70 m.
GLOSSARY
antitropical distribution – the distribution pattern where a
group is found north and south of, but not in, the tropics (also anti-
equatorial).
antrorse (spine) – pointing or curving anteriorly.
serrae – saw-like teeth or serrations.
FAMILY DRACONETTIDAE
Slope dragonets
Ronald Fricke and M Eric Anderson
Body elongate, rounded in cross-section; head broad and
moderately depressed. Two dorsal fins: 1st dorsal fin 3 spines;
2nd dorsal fin 12–15 rays, all unbranched except last ray
divided to base; anal fin without spines, 12 or 13 rays, all
branched, last ray divided to base; pelvic fins large, jugular,
widely separated, with 1 spine, 5 so rays. Jaws with villiform
teeth in bands, no teeth on palate. Nostrils paired. Gill opening
broad, extending from upper edge of pectoral-fin base almost
to pelvic-fin base; gill rakers small, few. Opercle and subopercle
reduced, each with straight, sharp spine; no preopercular spine.
Lateral line developed on head only, vestigial on body, set in a
groove. No scales.
Relatively rare, in tropical to warm-temperate waters of all
three major oceans. Little is known of their life-history stages;
larvae planktonic, adults benthic on so bottom, from edge
of outer continental shelf and on seamounts, to ~600 m deep.
Reviews of the family by Briggs & Berry (1959), Nakabo (1982)
and Fricke (1992). Two genera and ~12 species; probably 3
species in WIO, only 1 at depths of <200 m.

631VOLUME 4 | COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN
PLATE 163
Family CALLIONYMIDAE, Dragonets
© A Daydé
© P Devarapalli, MSNDC
Callionymus aagilis, slow dragonet (Réunion). Callionymus carebares, Indian deepwater dragonet, 90 mm SL (India).
PC Heemstra © NRF-SAIAB
© SV Bogorodsky
Callionymus delicatulus, delicate ruddertail dragonet, 26 mm SL, male
(Seychelles).
Callionymus delicatulus, delicate ruddertail dragonet, female (Red Sea).
© JE Randall, Bishop Museum
© SV Bogorodsky
Callionymus erythraeus, smallhead dragonet, 72 mm SL, female (India). Callionymus filamentosus, blotchfin dragonet, female (Gulf of Suez).
© JE Randall, Bishop Museum
© SV Bogorodsky
Callionymus filamentosus, blotchfin dragonet, 98 mm SL, male (India). Callionymus filamentosus, blotchfin dragonet, 90 mm SL (Red Sea).

COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4632
PLATE 164
Family CALLIONYMIDAE, Dragonets
© SV Bogorodsky
© JE Randall, Bishop Museum
Callionymus gardineri, longtail dragonet, 11.8 cm SL, male
(GulfofSuez).
Callionymus hindsii, megamouth dragonet, 57 mm SL (Kuwait).
PC Heemstra © NRF-SAIAB
© JE Randall, Bishop Museum
Callionymus marleyi, darter dragonet, 84 mm SL, male (Mozambique). Callionymus marleyi, darter dragonet, 55 mm SL, female (Red Sea).
LA Jawad © OMMSFC
LA Jawad © OMMSFC
Callionymus muscatensis, Muscat spiny dragonet, 56 mm SL, female
(Oman).
Callionymus omanensis, Oman dragonet, 11.1 cm SL, male holotype
(Oman). #
© SV Bogorodsky
© SV Bogorodsky
Callionymus oxycephalus, Red Sea spiny dragonet, 84 mm SL, female
(Gulf of Suez).
Callionymus oxycephalus, Red Sea spiny dragonet, 76 mm SL, male
(Gulfof Suez).
# = no species account

633VOLUME 4 | COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN
PLATE 165
Family CALLIONYMIDAE, Dragonets
Callionymus persicus, Persian dragonet, 59 mm SL, female (top) (Bahrain); 11.9 cm SL, male (bottom) (Seychelles).
PC Heemstra © NRF-SAIAB
PC Heemstra © NRF-SAIAB
Callionymus profundus, Aqaba dragonet, 65 mm SL, holotype
(GulfofAqaba). #
Callionymus regani, Regan’s deepwater dragonet, 17 cm SL
(Mozambique).
O Alvheim © IMR/ASCLME
© SV Bogorodsky
Callionymus spiniceps, Seychelles spiny dragonet, 19 cm TL
(MascareneRidge).
Diplogrammus gruveli, slender dragonet, 56 mm SL (Gulf of Suez).
© JE Randall, Bishop Museum
# = no species account

COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4634
PLATE 166
Family CALLIONYMIDAE, Dragonets
© JE Randall, Bishop Museum
© SV Bogorodsky
Diplogrammus infulatus, sawspine dragonet, 54 mm SL, male (Red Sea). Diplogrammus infulatus, sawspine dragonet, male (Red Sea).
© SV Bogorodsky
© JE Randall, Bishop Museum
Diplogrammus paucispinis, Saudi Arabian dragonet, 28 mm SL,
maleholotype (Red Sea).
Diplogrammus pygmaeus, pygmy dragonet, 24 mm SL (Saudi Arabia).
© SV Bogorodsky
AD Connell © NRF-SAIAB
Diplogrammus randalli, Randall’s fold dragonet, male (Red Sea). Draculo celetus, dainty dragonet, 40 mm SL (South Africa).
Paracallionymus costatus, ladder dragonet, 18 cm TL (top), 14 cm TL (bottom)
(both SouthAfrica).
O Alvheim © IMR

635VOLUME 4 | COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN
PLATE 167
Family CALLIONYMIDAE, Dragonets
© V Fraser
© V Fraser
Synchiropus marmoratus, marbled dragonet, male (S Mozambique). Synchiropus marmoratus, marbled dragonet, female (S Mozambique).
© JE Randall, Bishop Museum
PC Heemstra © NRF-SAIAB
Synchiropus minutulus, minute flagfin dragonet, 23 mm SL (Maldives). Synchiropus monacanthus, deepwater dragonet, 10.4 cm SL, (top)
10.8cmSL (bottom) (both Mozambique).
O Alvheim © IMR/ASCLME
© SV Bogorodsky
Synchiropus cf. monacanthus, 12.5 cm TL, dorsal view
(Saya de Malha Bank).
Synchiropus sechellensis, Seychelles dragonet, 68 mm SL, male
(GulfofSuez).

COASTAL FISHES OF THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN | VOLUME 4636
PLATE 168
Family CALLIONYMIDAE, Dragonets
© JE Randall, Bishop Museum
PC Heemstra © NRF-SAIAB
Synchiropus sechellensis, Seychelles dragonet, 75 mm SL (Seychelles). Synchiropus stellatus, starry dragonet, 19 mm SL, male (Mauritius).
© JE Randall, Bishop Museum
© N Ayliffe
Synchiropus stellatus, starry dragonet, 31 mm SL, female (Maldives). Synchiropus stellatus, starry dragonet (South Africa).
© YK Tea
© YK Tea
Synchiropus tudorjonesi, redback dragonet, aquarium female (Indonesia). Synchiropus tudorjonesi, redback dragonet, aquarium male (Indonesia).
Family DRACONETTIDAE, Slope dragonets
Draconetta xenica, highfin slope dragonet, 11 cm TL (Mozambique).
O Alvheim © IMR