Genus: Callionymus, Dragonets, Lancer Dragonet

CALLIONYMUS

DRAGONETS

Elongate, somewhat depressed; no skin fold on side of belly; eyes large, on upper side of head; a small mouth that angles down when open, with a protrusible top jaw; preoperculum with a large spine that has a lower, forward pointing spine and 3 or more spines along its upper, rear edge, and a hook below; but no spines or the operculum; gill openings small and high on the shoulder; two dorsal fins, IV flexible spines + 9 unbranched soft rays; 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; lateral line complete, extends onto tail fin; no scales.

A W Pacific and W Atlantic genus with about four species; 1 in and endemic to the Greater Caribbean.