Phaeton dragonet (Synchiropus phaeton)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Synchiropus phaeton · Authority: (Günther, 1861) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 126798.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Callionymus phaeton Günther, 1861.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=126798 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 18 cm · Common length: 12 cm · Depth range: 80–848 m · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 34.7 of 100 · Fishery importance: of no interest.

FishBase notes: Depth range from 80-650 m (Ref. 06941) and from 302-848 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). Found on sand or mud bottoms. Territorial, males aggressive to each other. Feeds on small bottom invertebrates, mainly worms, snails and crustaceans. Eggs and larvae pelagic (Ref. 5968). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 26999.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 1703) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Synchiropus-phaeton.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,387 georeferenced occurrence records for Synchiropus phaeton are published through GBIF from 31 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 131 distinct locations from a sample of 1,387 records, omitting 38 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: Spain (483); Portugal (165); Nigeria (118); Ghana (80); Gabon (79).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2386690) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2386690&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=126798 (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 phaeton (Günther, 1861) 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 198638) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/198638/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2386690) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2386690/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Synchiropus phaeton is a relatively small animal with a sexual dimorphism in size where the male fish generally are larger than the female fish. Male fish grow up to 10–14 cm with a maximum total length of 18 cm reported. Female fish can grow up to 12 cm with 6–10 cm being common although sizes greater 20 cm are reported. They are characterized by their big eyes which are sitting inside the skull and an extraordinary spiny structure on the top of their gill cover (preopercular spine). Their body has an orange or red colour dorsally with yellow to olive patches on their skin. The belly colour can vary from pinkish to silvery. The dorsal fin has a black blotch between the third and fourth spine, whereas the anal fin has a black streak or margin.

The Phaeton dragonet can be found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean along the coast of Portugal and from the Azores to Gabon. It also occurs in the Mediterranean Sea all the way to Cyprus where it is commonly found and up to the coast of Israel. It is not as abundant in the northern Adriatic Sea and northern Aegean Sea.

Synchiropus phaeton is a benthic deep-water species found in depths of 80–650 m. Its habitat consists of muddy and sandy bottoms where it feeds on small bottom invertebrates like worms, snails and crustaceans. Male fish have a territorial behaviour, meaning they are aggressive towards other male fish of the same species.

Reproduction in the Mediterranean Phaeton dragonet occurs from June to September. Its eggs and larvae develop floating in the open water and therefore are pelagic.

Synchiropus phaeton occurs as a bycatch in octopus fishery in Senegal and bottom trawl fishery in the mediterranean. Some fish of the Callionymidae family are marketed locally and utilized in aquarium trade.

There are no known major threats to the Phaeton dragonet. The population is thought to be highly abundant and the species is not listed as endangered and therefore marked as LC for "least concern".

Source: Wikipedia: Synchiropus phaeton — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchiropus_phaeton (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.