Species: Callionymus bairdi, Lancer dragonet

Callionymus bairdi (Jordan, 1888)

Lancer dragonet

Elongate, somewhat depressed; side of belly without a longitudinal skin fold; a small mouth that angles down when open, with a protrusible top jaw;  eye large, directed to side; preoperculum with a large spine that has a lower, forward pointing spine and 3-9 spines along its upper, rear edge; but no spines or the operculum; gill openings small and high on the shoulder; two dorsal fins, IV flexible spines + 9 unbranched soft rays, all spines elongate, forming a flag-like fin; anal fin with 8 rays and no spines; pectorals large, rounded; pelvics insert under preopercular spine, large, reach past anal fin origin in males; tail fin relatively short, bluntly rounded; lateral line complete, extends onto tail fin; no scales.