The English name for this unusual fish is Dragonet, derived from the word “dragon.” It indeed has a resemblance to a small dragon. In Vietnamese, it is called “cá đàn lia,” and its scientific name is Callionymus lyra.
Dragonets typically inhabit the seafloor near the shore at depths of around 400 meters. They feed on small crustaceans, mollusks, and other invertebrates.
Male Dragonets use bright colors and their dorsal fins to warn other males to steer clear of their “territory.” Intruding males are quickly chased away, and the two opponents will do everything they can to intimidate each other.
Dragonets mate in shallow waters. With a rather delicate courtship ritual, males attract females by erecting their dorsal fins while swimming alongside and circling the female. The two will then pair up, swimming upward together with their bellies pressed against each other. During this ascent, the female lays eggs, and the male releases sperm to fertilize them. The eggs gradually float to the surface.
The hatchlings live near the water’s surface until they reach a certain size (at least around 1 cm long) before swimming down to the seafloor.
Unlike the dragons of mythology, this “mini-dragon” does not have scales. However, it has a large head, and its dorsal fin near the head is very long, with a spine that extends higher than the fin itself. Adult male Dragonets are brownish-yellow with darker markings on their heads and striped patterns along their bodies. Juvenile Dragonets do not yet have the prominent dorsal spine.
The body length of an adult male Dragonet is about 30 cm, while a mature female is around 20 cm.
