Synchiropus splendidus
A vividly colored dragonet with blue cellular pigment.
Last updated
Luc Viatour · via Wikipedia: Synchiropus splendidus · CC BY-SA 3.0
Synchiropus splendidus, commonly known as the mandarinfish or mandarin dragonet, is a small, brightly colored member of the dragonet family (Callionymidae) popular in the saltwater aquarium trade. It is native to the Pacific, ranging approximately from the Ryukyu Islands south to Australia, and is usually found in warmer waters. It is notable as one of only two vertebrate species known to have blue coloring due to cellular pigment, rather than structural color.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassActinopterygii
- DivisionTeleostei
- OrderSyngnathiformes
- FamilyCallionymidae
- GenusSynchiropus
- SpeciesSynchiropus splendidus
Named by (Herre, 1927)
Close relatives
Other species of Synchiropus with a Codexery entry.
- Picturesque dragonet Synchiropus picturatus
- Synchiropus monacanthus Synchiropus monacanthus
- Synchiropus phaeton Synchiropus phaeton
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Synchiropus splendidus (CC BY-SA 4.0) · differs from this box at order: WoRMS AphiaID 273264 (CC BY 4.0)
Conservation status
Least Concern (LC)
- LC▲ this species
- NT
- VU
- EN
- CR
- EW
- EX
Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.06 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Synchiropus splendidus
Where the synchiropus splendidus has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (511 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 15 inland records left out (institution coordinates). 1 isolated far-off record not drawn.
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Background
The mandarinfish was first described as Callionymus splendidus in 1927 by American ichthyologist Albert William Herre, working in the Philippines. It was later placed in the genus Synchiropus, whose name derives from Ancient Greek syn- ('together') and -chiropus ('hand-foot').
The specific epithet splendidus is Latin for 'bright' or 'glittering.' Its common name comes from its vivid coloration, evoking the robes of an Imperial Chinese mandarin. Other common names include mandarin goby, green mandarin, striped mandarinfish, striped dragonet, green dragonet, and psychedelic mandarinfish. The similarly named mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi), or Chinese perch, is distantly related.
The mandarinfish belongs to the perciform family Callionymidae (dragonets), which has 10 genera and over 182 species. Genus Synchiropus contains 51 species divided into 10 subgenera; S. splendidus is placed in subgenus Synchiropus (Pterosynchiropus) along with S. occidentalis and S. picturatus. The name 'cyanophore' was proposed for its blue chromatophores, as it is one of only two vertebrates with blue cellular pigment; in all other known cases, blue is structural, from thin-film interference of purine crystals.
Description
The mandarinfish has a goby-like body shape, though this is the only resemblance. Its vivid coloration includes a bright blue background with swirly orange stripes, a blue-greenish face with bold blue stripes, and large pelvic fins used for 'walking' on the seafloor. The real pectoral fins are nearly transparent and located near the center.
The dorsal fin is exceptionally tall in males. Eyes are usually red with black pupils. Varieties include the green mandarin (the described form), the red mandarin (with red pelvic fins and orange areas), and the spotted mandarin (light gray-green with black, pink, and blue spots).
Mandarinfish are reef dwellers, preferring sheltered lagoons and inshore reefs. They are slow-moving, bottom-feeding, and reach only about 6 cm, making them hard to see despite being common within their range. They feed primarily on small crustaceans and other invertebrates.
More in Dragonets
Elsewhere in Frogfish and Dragonets
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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 splendidus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; compare WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List assessment.
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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