Animal Profiles
Fish

Mandarin fish

Synchiropus splendidus

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The mandarinfish is a small, vividly patterned marine dragonet. It searches reef surfaces for tiny animals, often keeping close to coral branches, rubble and sheltered crevices.

Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus) photographed in an aquarium.

Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus) photographed in an aquarium.

Luc Viatour · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Synchiropus splendidus lives in the western Pacific, including reefs and lagoons around Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Its usual habitat lies close to the bottom rather than in open water.
Habitat
Coral reef, Coast
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Small crustaceans, worms and other tiny organisms supply food.

Classification

Common name
Mandarin fish
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Synchiropus splendidus
Taxon rank
species
Order
Perciformes
Family
Callionymidae
Genus
Synchiropus

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It lacks scales.
  • It eats tiny bottom-associated animals.
  • Males have a long first dorsal spine.

Habitat and range

Synchiropus splendidus lives in the western Pacific, including reefs and lagoons around Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Its usual habitat lies close to the bottom rather than in open water.

Appearance and adaptations

Blue, orange and other bright lines cover the body. Broad pelvic fins support movement along the bottom. A mucus coating replaces scales, and males have a particularly elongated first dorsal spine.

Diet and behaviour

Small crustaceans, worms and other tiny organisms supply food. The small mouth takes suitably small prey from reef surfaces. During the day individuals move among coral branches and nearby hiding places.

Sources

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