Belcher's dragonet (Callionymus belcheri)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Callionymiformes · Family: Callionymidae · Genus: Callionymus.

Accepted name: Callionymus belcheri · Authority: Richardson, 1844 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273164.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Callionymus belcheri belcheri Richardson, 1844; Callionymus belcheri recurvispinis (Li, 1966); Callionymus belcheri recurvispinnis (Li, 1966); Callionymus recurvispinis (Li, 1966); Callionymus recurvispinnis (Li, 1966); Calliurichthys belcheri (Richardson, 1844); Calliurichthys recurvispinis Li, 1966; Calliurichthys recurvispinnis Li, 1966; Repomucenus belcheri (Richardson, 1844).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273164 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Callionymus belcheri. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 10 cm · Depth range: 18–36 m · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: elongated · Vulnerability index: 26 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 4697) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Callionymus-belcheri.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

239 georeferenced occurrence records for Callionymus belcheri are published through GBIF from 12 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 81 distinct locations from a sample of 239 records, omitting 12 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (199); Thailand (12); India (7); Malaysia (6); Indonesia (4); Papua New Guinea (3); Philippines (3); China (1); Hong Kong (1); Réunion (1); Chinese Taipei (1); Viet Nam (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2386826) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2386826&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273164 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Callionymus belcheri has a yellowish to brown head and body with many small white spots on its back. The flanks are marked with white blotches which have dark brown margins. The underside is white. There are two dorsal fins, the first dorsal fin is brownish in colour, with a distal margin that is often blackish and which in males has white spots.

The second dorsal fin is marked wither with light and dark streaks or with small white spots. The anal fin of males has a dark streak and in females is colourless or has dark spots on ots distal portion. The lower two-thirds of the caudal fin has brown spots.

The preopercular spine has a concave ventral margin. There are a total of 4 spines in the dorsal fins and 9 soft rays with 8 soft rays in the anal fin. This species grows to a length of 10 cm SL.

Distribution

Callionymus belcheri occurs in Queensland from Moreton Bay north to northern New Guinea and into the Gulf of Carpentaria, and westwards to northern Western Australia.

Habitat and biology

Callionymus belcheri is a marine, demersal fish which occurs at depth ranges of 18 to 36 m. It has a varied diet which is mainly made up of invertebrates including polychaete worms, gastropods, bivalves, small crustaceans and scaphopods. Larger fish also ate echinoderms and Caperllids.

They appear to feed mainly in the late afternoon between 16:00 and 18:00, spending the rest of the day buried in sand or mud. This species spawns once a year in the southern Autumn, from March to May. They mature at lengths of 70 - 80 mm in both sexes and females become less fertile towards the end of their lives.

Taxonomy and naming

The subspecies Callionymus belcheri recurvispinnis, as named by Fricke. is regarded as a valid species by some authorities and is treated as such in FishBase, the authority used here for species of fish.

The specific name honours the British Naval officer and explorer Admiral Sir Edward Belcher (1799-1877) who collected many specimens during his career and was a collector of shells.

Source: Wikipedia: Callionymus belcheri — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callionymus_belcheri (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.