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Updated 2/3/2025

Family Callionymidae

Dragonets

Dragonets are small benthic fishes with a stout angular head, short pointed snout and high-set eyes.  They live in sand, rubble, or crevices and feed upon small invertebrates.  They are sexually dimorphic and often brightly colored with showy fins.  This family includes the Mandarinfishes.  Hawai'i has several species but are rarely noticed by divers.

 

HAWAII - ENDEMIC

Callionymus decoratus

LONGTAIL DRAGONET

 

Callionymus comptus  

ORNAMENTED DRAGONET

 

Synchiropus rosulentus 

ROSY DRAGONET

 


INDO-PACIFIC

Synchiropus splendidus

MANDARINFISH

 

Synchiropus picturatus

PAINTED DRAGONET

 

Callionymus delicatulus

DELICATE DRAGONET

 

Anaora tentaculata

TENTACLED DRAGONET

Synchiropus ocellatus

OCELLATED DRAGONET