Description

Dorsal spines (total): 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 7. Identified by the finger-like separate first rays of the ventral fins, and distinguished from the similar D. kuiteri in usually having 8 divided rays in the second dorsal fin (versus 9), the fin with a distinct horizontal pattern of lines in adults, and males have long filaments on the first dorsal fin (versus short or absent) (Ref. 48636). Body moderately depressed. Preopercular spine with processes on both inner and outer sides. Pelvic spine and 1st pelvic ray fused into an elongate rod, separated from the other pelvic rays. Attains 10 cm SL.

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Callionymiformes

Family: Callionymidae

Genus: Dactylopus

Species: Dactylopus dactylopus (Valenciennes, 1837)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Lives on sand-weed bottoms (Ref. 559). Inhabits protected sand and mud flats and slopes at depths of 1 to 55 m (Ref. 37816); also include estuaries and deep water (Ref. 48636). May be seen solitary or in pairs (Ref. 90102).

Habitat

associated

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Threat to Humans

Harmless