Fun Common Dragonet Facts For Kids

The common dragonet (Callionymus lyra) is a type of small marine fish that belongs to the Callionymidae family. The dragonet species are usually found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific oceans. The common dragonet can be found in the North Atlantic Ocean along the shores of Europe. They also live in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Males of the species have a body length of about 9.8-12 in (25-30 cm), and the body length of females is about 6-8 in (15-20 cm). The mature males are brightly colored as they have bright blue and yellowfins and bodies. Females and immature males are brown. They have a triangular, broad head, a protruding lower jaw, and a long snout. Their lower body is flattened. The mature males have elongated rays in their dorsal fin and caudal fin. They are opportunistic feeders who feed on various types of marine worms and small crustaceans. They can be found at a depth of 16-160 ft (5-50 m) in the ocean.

If you want to read more amazing animal facts like these, please check out the River Chub and Canary Rockfish.

What type of animal is a common dragonet?

The common dragonet (Callionymus lyra) is a type of marine fish commonly found in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea.

What class of animal does a common dragonet belong to?

The common dragonet (Callionymus lyra) belongs to the Actinopterygii class of the Animalia kingdom.

How many common dragonets are there in the world?

The exact numbers of common dragonets in the world are not known yet. However, this fish is a Least Concern species according to the IUCN Red List. This means that they have a safe population in the wild.

Where does a common dragonet live?

The common dragonet lives in the ocean. More specifically, they are found in the North Atlantic ocean, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean sea.

What is a common dragonet's habitat?

Usually, dragonets are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific waters. Common dragonets are found in the North Atlantic Ocean around the shores of Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. They are a demersal species that can be seen usually 16-160 ft (5-50 m) deep in the ocean. But they can also be seen into the depths of 1410 ft (430 m). The ideal temperature range for them is about 61-68 F (16-20 C). They spend most of their time on the seabed where food like crustaceans and marine worms are abundant.

Who do common dragonets live with?

Male common dragonets are very territorial and aggressive. They are known to spawn in pairs. They are sometimes displayed in aquariums and thus live with people.

How long does a common dragonet live?

The average lifespan of a common dragonet is about six to ten years in the wild. But for dragonets, their lifespan decreases in captivity.

How do they reproduce?

The common dragonet is one of the few species of fish that spawn as a pair. They have a long mating process where males make a display of their colorful fins, and raising their heads, and opening their mouths. They then mate and their eggs and milt are released between the bodies of the pair and fertilized. After being fertilized, the eggs drift away into the sea.

What is their conservation status?

 The common dragonets are listed as a Least Concern species in the IUCN Red List, which means that their populations are safe in the wild and they won't face extinction anytime soon.

What do common dragonets look like?

The common dragonet (Callionymus lyra) is a small marine fish. The mature males of the species are very beautiful as they have bright blue and yellowfins and bodies. They also have elongated rays in their dorsal fin and caudal fin. They are sexually dimorphic as adults and females are not only smaller but also are differently colored than males. The females and juvenile males are brown and have a pale underside. They have brown blotches on their sides and also dark stripes on their second dorsal fin. Common dragonets are camouflaged pretty well and help them hide in the coarse sand or gravel. They have a triangular, broad head. Their snouts are long, with a protruding lower jaw and a flattened body. Their eyes are on the tops of their heads.

How cute are they?

Common dragonets are not a typically cute species of fish. The mature males are bright and colorful, so they are pleasing to look at.

How do they communicate?

Not much is known about how common dragonets communicate with each other. They have a long and complicated mating process. The males usually make a display with their fins to win over females to mate with them. Male dragonets are also known to make a display of their dorsal fins to communicate their aggression to other males. These territorial males also fight amongst themselves.

How big is a common dragonet?

The male common dragonets are longer than females. The average body length of a male common dragonet is about 9.8-12 in (25-30 cm), while the average body length of females is about 6-8 in (15-20 cm). They are larger than the round goby whose average length is about 4-10 in (10-25 cm) and smaller than the Koi fish which is about 10-15 in (26-36 cm).

How fast can a common dragonet swim?

The exact speed of the common dragonet is not available. However, dragonets swim with the help of their caudal fins and can swim pretty fast.

How much does a common dragonet weigh?

The exact weight of the common dragonet is not available. The average weight for dragonets is about 6.4 oz (182 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names for males and females of the species. They are just called the male common dragonets and female common dragonets.

What would you call a baby common dragonet?

There are no specific names for the young common dragonets. They are usually called the baby common dragonets or juvenile common dragonets.

What do they eat?

Common dragonets are opportunistic feeders. They prey on whatever food is abundant in their habitat. Their diet is mostly made up of small crustaceans and marine worms.

Are they dangerous?

Dragonets are not dangerous at all to humans. Male common dragonets can be territorial and possessive but they pose no threat to humans. They are even kept as pets and displayed in marine aquariums across the world.

Would they make a good pet?

Dragonets make for good pets for fish lovers. This marine fish is a docile pet. They can live with other species of fish pretty well. But you should not keep two male common dragonets together as they are territorial and will fight with each other. Their docile nature also makes them an easy target for other fishes to bully. If you are thinking of getting a common dragonet as a pet, make sure to keep them safe. They do well in reef aquariums and feeding them is also pretty easy. If they are fed and taken care of well, they will make a great addition to your aquarium. The bright blue and yellow colors of the male common dragonet are also very attractive. A pair of a male and female is always a good option.

Did you know...

Common dragonets are sexually dimorphic, much like a lot of marine fishes. Another species of fish that show sexual dimorphism is the Sockeye salmon.

Are dragonets freshwater fish? 

No, dragonets are not freshwater fish. Common dragonets are a species of marine fish that is mostly found throughout the North Atlantic ocean. They are not endemic to any country.

What does dragonet mean? 

The name dragonet means 'little dragon'. Any fish that belongs to the Callionymidae family is identified as a dragonet.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Pacific whiting fun facts and pike interesting facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Fish Splashing coloring pages.

Main image by Hans Hillewaert and second image by Ryan E. Poplin.