Callionymus japonicus Houttuyn, 1782
Japanese longtail dragonet
Callionymus japonicus
photo by Gloerfelt-Tarp, T.

Family:  Callionymidae (Dragonets)
Max. size:  20 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 5 - 208 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Japan (Ref. 559), Papua New Guinea (Ref. 6192), Indonesia and northwestern Australia (Ref. 5978), Chesterfield Islands (Ref. 11897).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal soft rays: 8. Ground coloration dark brown, ventral parts of body light brown or white. Back with some darker saddles, sides of body with a row of black blotches. First dorsal fin with an ocellate black blotch on third membrane. Anal fin with a broad distal black streak. Second dorsal fin, caudal fin, pectoral and pelvic fins with brownish spots and blotches (Ref 42832).
Biology:  Inhabits shallow to deep waters (Ref. 559), on sandy mud bottoms (Ref. 11230). Rarely seen by divers but more commonly encountered in shallow waters (Ref. 90102). Feeds mainly on amphipods, polychaetes, bivalves, gastropods and ophiuroids (Ref. 13374). Minimum depth of 5 m reported from Ref. 90102.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 March 2022 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Rarely seen by divers but more commonly encountered in shallow waters of Mainit Beach, (Batangas, Philippines) in particular (Ref. 90102). Also Ref. 75992.


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