Species: Synchiropus dagmarae, Dagmar’s Dragonet

Synchiropus dagmarae (Fricke, 1985)

Dagmar’s Dragonet

Elongate, somewhat depressed; no skin fold along side of belly; head relatively long (length before dorsal fin 30-35% SL); a small mouth that angles down when open, with a protrusible top jaw; a large, up-curved, two-pointed spine on the preoperculum, but no spines or the operculum; gill openings small and high on the shoulder; two dorsal fins, IV flexible spines + 8 soft rays, 1st dorsal spine elongate and filamentous in male, outer edge of 2nd dorsal slightly concave in both sexes; anal fin with 7 rays and no spines; pectorals large, rounded, usually 2 unbranched + 18-21 branched rays; pelvics insert under preopercular spine, large, reach past anal fin origin in males; tail fin long, with filaments in males; lateral line complete, extends onto tail fin; no scales.

Reddish; a distinct dark spot (heart-shaped in male) between last two dorsal fin spines at all sizes; second dorsal fin dark spotted; anal fin with black stripe near outer edge in female but not male; tail fin may have dark spots on upper half.

Reaches 22.5 cm.

Lives on soft bottoms.

Depth range: 45-700 m.

S Caribbean to Guyana.