Picturesque dragonet (Synchiropus picturatus)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
The picturesque dragonet (Synchiropus picturatus) is a brightly colored marine ray-finned fish from the dragonet family Callionymidae. It is native to the Indo-West Pacific: Philippines, eastern Indonesia and northwest Australia. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade, where it is also called the spotted mandarin, psychedelic mandarin or target mandarin.
- Scientific name
- Synchiropus picturatus
- Authority
- (Peters, 1877)
- Family
- Callionymidae
- Order
- Callionymiformes
- Maximum length
- 7 cm
- Habitat zone
- reef-associated
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
- Gbif occurrence records
- 32
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Callionymiformes · Family: Callionymidae · Genus: Synchiropus.
Accepted name: Synchiropus picturatus · Authority: (Peters, 1877) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273257.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Callionymus picturatus Peters, 1877; Pterosynchiropus picturatus (Peters, 1877).
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273257 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Synchiropus picturatus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 7 cm · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.
FishBase notes: Found on sandy bottoms of shallow sheltered reefs (Ref. 9710). Secretive in rubble below living coral (Ref. 48636). Feeds on small benthic invertebrates (Ref. 9710). Forms small loose groups (Ref. 90102).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 12740) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Synchiropus-picturatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
32 georeferenced occurrence records for Synchiropus picturatus are published through GBIF from 3 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 8 distinct locations from a sample of 32 records, omitting 4 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: Indonesia (24); Philippines (5); Malaysia (3).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Chinese Exclusive Economic Zone.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2386693) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2386693&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273257 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
The IUCN Red List assesses Synchiropus picturatus (Peters, 1877) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.
Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 170256591) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/170256591/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2386693) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2386693/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
The picturesque dragonet may grow to 7 cm in length.
The skin of the picturesque dragonet is covered by a thick layer of slime, which inhibits many types of parasitic infection and minimizes the risk of disease following stress or physical trauma. It also seems to help the fish from more aggressive fish.
The picturesque dragonet is one of only two vertebrates known to have blue coloring because of cellular pigment, the other being the mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus), which is a closely related species. In all other known cases, the color blue comes from thin-film interference from piles of flat, thin and reflecting purine crystals.
The picturesque dragonet is quite harmless to humans and coexists peacefully with other species. It is recommended to keep the tank temperature between 24-28 C and maintain a pH level of 8.2-8.4.
Source: Wikipedia: Picturesque dragonet — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picturesque_dragonet (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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