The Dragonet is a small benthic fish with an impressive appearance that resembles an exotic species. It belongs to the family Callionymidae, and its name translates to "beautiful name". The body is elongated, and the head is broad and triangular with eyes positioned high on the top. It does not have scales, and the skin is covered by a slimy substance.

The most striking characteristic is the intense sexual dimorphism, with significant differences in appearance between the sexes. Males are larger and colourful with bold blue, yellow, and green stripes, especially on the head. The first dorsal fin of the male is massive and looks like a sail or a fan, which it opens to impress females. Females are smaller and have simpler colours, tones of brown and beige, with spots that provide perfect camouflage on the sand. In the Mediterranean, two main species are encountered, which are the Common Dragonet and the Spotted Dragonet.

This species lives exclusively on the seabed, usually in areas with sand, mud, or fine gravel, where it can partially bury itself. The Common Dragonet prefers shallow waters from 5 to 50 metres, while the Spotted Dragonet lives at greater depths, starting from 45 metres and reaching down to 650 metres.

Fisheries & Economic Value

It has no significant commercial value and is rarely sold in fish markets. It is caught mainly as bycatch by bottom trawlers and occasionally by recreational anglers using handlines. It is usually discarded or used in traditional fish soups along with other small fish for added flavour. It is also sometimes used as bait.