Spotted Dragonet, Repomucenus calcaratus (Macleay, 1881)

Introduction

The Spotted Dragonet is sandy coloured above with small grey spots or rings. It occurs in temperate marine waters of Australia.

Identification

The Spotted Dragonet has a flattened head and an elongate body. There is a large spine on the preoperculum that is directed down and forward. This fish is sandy coloured above with small grey spots or rings. It is paler below with larger grey blotches along the sides. There is a dark blotch posteriorly on the short-based first dorsal fin.

Distribution

It occurs in temperate marine waters of southern Australia, from southern Queensland to southern New South Wales, and from Kangaroo Island, South Australia to the central coast of Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

1. Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
2. Gomon, M.F. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
4. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.