Synchiropus monacanthus
A deep-water dragonet with elongated dorsal filaments and violet fin streaks.
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Synchiropus monacanthus is a species of dragonet in the family Callionymidae.[1][2] It is known by the common names deep-water dragonet and South African bigeye dragonet.[1] The species was described by Smith in 1935.[2][3]
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassActinopterygii
- DivisionTeleostei
- OrderSyngnathiformes
- FamilyCallionymidae
- GenusSynchiropus
- SpeciesSynchiropus monacanthus
Named by J. L. B. Smith, 1935
Close relatives
Other species of Synchiropus with a Codexery entry.
- Picturesque dragonet Synchiropus picturatus
- Synchiropus phaeton Synchiropus phaeton
- Synchiropus splendidus Synchiropus splendidus
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Synchiropus monacanthus (CC BY-SA 4.0) · differs from this box at order: WoRMS AphiaID 219781 (CC BY 4.0)
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.13 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Synchiropus monacanthus
Where the synchiropus monacanthus has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (45 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range.
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Biology and range
The first dorsal fin has elongated filaments.[4] A maximum total length of 13.0 cm is attained by this species.[5] In adult males, the caudal fin tends to be longer, whereas in females it is more pointed.[4] Violet streaks are present on the distal portions of the fins.[4]
What the specialist sources record
GBIF holds 52 occurrence records for this taxon as of 7 October 2026.[3] The WoRMS record lists the species as accepted, in the order Callionymiformes and class Teleostei.[2]
References
- Wikipedia, "Synchiropus monacanthus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Fricke, R., 1986. Callionymidae. p. 770-774. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.; Fricke, Ronald & Anderson, M.. (2022). Family Callionymidae, Dragonets. Pp. 444-466, pls. 163-168. In: Heemstra, P. C. et al. (eds.): Coastal fishes of the west; "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Synchiropus monacanthus Smith, 1935", marinespecies.org (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- World Register of Marine Species, Synchiropus monacanthus (AphiaID 219781). CC BY 4.0. marinespecies.org
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy and occurrence index, Synchiropus monacanthus (taxon key 2386682). CC BY 4.0 (backbone); counts are facts. gbif.org
- Wikipedia, "Synchiropus monacanthus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Fricke, Ronald. (1983). Revision of the Indo-Pacific Genera and Species of the Dragonet Family Callionymidae (Teleostei).; Kumar, "First record of the dragonet species, Synchiropus monacanthus (Callionymiformes, Callionymidae), from India: An eastward range extension in the Indian Ocean", Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria, 2026-06-05, p. 269–; (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Synchiropus monacanthus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Fricke, Ronald & Anderson, M.. (2022). Family Callionymidae, Dragonets. Pp. 444-466, pls. 163-168. In: Heemstra, P. C. et al. (eds.): Coastal fishes of the west (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Synchiropus monacanthus (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Dragonets
Elsewhere in Frogfish and Dragonets
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Synchiropus monacanthus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; compare WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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