TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Callionymidae (Dragonets)

Genus/species: Synchiropus picturatus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Elongate, moderately depressed, broad-headed. Pale brown to green, covered with large dark spots ringed with orange and green, turquoise band markings around eye.

Length up to 7 cm (2.75 inches)

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DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Northwest Australia, Indonesia and Philippines. Found in rubble patches and sandy bottoms near living corals of coastal reefs at depths of 2–20 m.

DIET IN THE WILD: Small benthic invertebrates, especially live zooplankton, such as copepods and amphipods.

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IUCN RED LIST Not evaluated

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Color on the Reef AQA13

Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/2985463647/in/album-72157659465376212/

Fishbase  www.fishbase.org/summary/Synchiropus-picturatus.html

EOL eol.org/pages/339917/overview

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1JF