Dragonet (Callionymus lyra)

Scientific name: Callionymus lyra Linnaeus, 1758

The Dragonet (Callionymus lyra) is a marine fish of the family Callionymidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 16–20°C (61–68°F).

Dragonet care at a glance

Temperature: 16–20°C (61–68°F)

Biology

Occurs on sand and muddy bottoms from sublittoral to 200 m and to 400 m or more. Feeds on small invertebrates, mainly worms and crustaceans. Territorial, males aggressive with each other. Complex courtship behavior consists of 4 phases: courtship, pairing, ascending, releasing eggs and milt. Pelagic eggs and larvae. Minimum depth reported from. Neither opercular spine gland nor anterolateral glandular groove with venom gland is present.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Callionymus lyra
Family: Callionymidae (Dragonets)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 30.0
Common length: 15.0
Depth range: 5–430 m (16–1411 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range 5 - 430 m, usually 5 - 30 m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: southern Iceland and Norway south to Mauritania, including the northern Mediterranean, Gibraltar, and Algeria, western Black Sea, Aegean and Adriatic Sea, Azores and the Canary Islands.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.43-0.47; tmax=6)