Mandarinfish

• Small, broad-headed and elongated, scaleless fish that typically reach about 3 inches (7.6 cm) in length.
• A brilliantly-colored fish, especially the male, with striking patterns of primarily green and orange.
• Classified as a “dragonet.”

• Diet consists of small benthic (bottom dwelling) invertebrates.

• Occurs in the Western Pacific from the Philippine Islands to the Great Barrier Reef.
• Bottom dweller found among coral or in shallow protected lagoons and inshore reefs at depths of 3-59 feet (1-18 m).
• They are usually found in small groups spread over a small area.

• Oviparous (egg-laying species).
• Males may display courtship “dances”, if a female is interested, she joins in the dancing.
• Sexually dimorphic, like other dragonets: males and females are physically different. Males are larger and exhibit a longer, spined dorsal fin that it uses for display.

• “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.

• Body produces odorous, foul-tasting, toxic mucus to compensate for lack of protective scales. This protects the animal from parasites and deters potential predators.

Micronesian Reef Fishes.  Meyers, R. F., pg. 232

Reef Fishes, Volume 1.  Michael, S. W., pgs. 56, 138

Fishes of the World – An Illustrated Dictionary.  Wheeler, A., pg. 343
An Encyclopedia of Fishes. 2^nd Edition, pg. 143

www.fishbase.org

www.iucnredlist.org

www.animaldiversity.org/accounts/Synchiropus_splendidus/