Short dragonfish (Eurypegasus draconis)

Scientific name: Eurypegasus draconis Linnaeus, 1766

Short dragonfish (Eurypegasus draconis)

The Short dragonfish (Eurypegasus draconis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Pegasidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal soft rays: 5; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 5; Vertebrae: 19 - 22. Color in life variable; body usually light to dark brown, with dorsal and lateral area darker than ventral surface. Pectoral fins hyaline, distal margin white and spotted. Pelvic fin spine and 1st ray forming an elongate, tentacular structure. 3 pairs of dorsolateral body plates; 4 pairs of ventrolateral body plates; tail rings 8, mobile. A pair of deep pits posterior to orbit. Suborbital shelf concave, eye visible in ventral view. Ventral ridges of rostrum greatly expanded than dorsal ridges, each with laterally directed denticles. Anal papilla absent.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Eurypegasus draconis
Family
Pegasidae (Seamoths)
Order
Gasterosteiformes (Sticklebacks and Seamoths)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
10.0
Depth range
3–91 m (10–299 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 91 m, usually 35 - 90 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa to Marquesan and Society Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia and Lord Howe Island; throughout Micronesia.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Data deficient (DD)
Threat to humans
Harmless

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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