KEY TO SPECIES
1a Main tip of preopercular spine upcurved, lower
margin of spine straight, dorsal margin with 3-6
large curved accessory spines ................................... C. marleyi
1 b Main tip of preopercular spine straight, lower
margin convex; dorsal margin with 4-11 small
straight antrorse serrae ................................................ ....... 2
2a C elongate in males and females; A 8; 1st D
spine connected to 2nd spine by a membrane ............. C. gardineri
2b C rounded, not elongate (except in males with 1
or 2 long filaments); A 9; 1st D spine detached
from rest offin in males .................................... C. Jilamentosus
239.1 Callionymus filamentosus
Valenciennes, 1837
Blotchfin dragonet
Vlekvin-drakie
Callionymus Jilamentosus Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1837: 303, PI.
359 (Celebes); Smith, 1963: 556*. Callionymus stigmapteron Smith, 1963:
555, Fig. 4 (Zanzibar).
D I+III+9 (male) or IV+9 (female); A 9; P 18-20. LL with 2 ventral
branches in postorbital region; lines of opposite sides connected across
occiput and across dorsal part of C peduncle. Head 3.1-4.0. Preopercular
spine with a strong antrorse spine at its base and dorsal margin with 4-9
straight antrorse serrae.
239: CALLIONYMIDAE (DRAGONETS)
Light brown, with dark spots on sides. Fins spotted with
dark brown. D\ in males with black stripes or blotches, in
females with a black blotch on 3rd membrane. Attains 20
cm. Delagoa Bay northwards to Red Sea and Indo-West
Pacific. Sand and mud bottoms, from shore to 100 m.
239.2 Callionymus gardineri
Regan, 1908
Longtail dragonet
Langstert-drakie
Callionymus gardineri Regan, 1908: 248, PI. 30, Fig. 5 (Cargados
Carajos). Calliurichthys gardineri: Smith, SFSA No. 391. Callionymus
japonicus (non Houttuyn): Smith, 1963: 556*.
D IV +9; A 8; P 18-20. LL with 2-3 ventral branches in postorbital
region; lines of opposite sides connected by a branch across occiput
and 2 branches across dorsal part ofC peduncle. Head 3.4-3.9. Preopercular spine with a strong antrorse spine at its base and 6-12 small antrorse
serrae along dorsal margin. C elongate but not filamentous.
Body colour light to dark brown; usually black blotch on
distal part of 3rd D spine; A with black submarginal band.
Attains 28 cm. Natal northwards, in most parts of western
Indian Ocean. Occurs on mud bottoms in 30 - 180 m, mostly
in deeper water.
239.1 Cal/ionymus filamentosus: top: 9 em SL female; bottom: 8 em SL male; right: preopereular spine.
239.2 Cal/ionymus gardineri: top: 8.5 em SL female; bottom: 10.5 em SL male; right: preopereular spine.
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1a Main tip of preopercular spine upcurved, lower
margin of spine straight, dorsal margin with 3-6
large curved accessory spines ................................... C. marleyi
1 b Main tip of preopercular spine straight, lower
margin convex; dorsal margin with 4-11 small
straight antrorse serrae ................................................ ....... 2
2a C elongate in males and females; A 8; 1st D
spine connected to 2nd spine by a membrane ............. C. gardineri
2b C rounded, not elongate (except in males with 1
or 2 long filaments); A 9; 1st D spine detached
from rest offin in males .................................... C. Jilamentosus
239.1 Callionymus filamentosus
Valenciennes, 1837
Blotchfin dragonet
Vlekvin-drakie
Callionymus Jilamentosus Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1837: 303, PI.
359 (Celebes); Smith, 1963: 556*. Callionymus stigmapteron Smith, 1963:
555, Fig. 4 (Zanzibar).
D I+III+9 (male) or IV+9 (female); A 9; P 18-20. LL with 2 ventral
branches in postorbital region; lines of opposite sides connected across
occiput and across dorsal part of C peduncle. Head 3.1-4.0. Preopercular
spine with a strong antrorse spine at its base and dorsal margin with 4-9
straight antrorse serrae.
239: CALLIONYMIDAE (DRAGONETS)
Light brown, with dark spots on sides. Fins spotted with
dark brown. D\ in males with black stripes or blotches, in
females with a black blotch on 3rd membrane. Attains 20
cm. Delagoa Bay northwards to Red Sea and Indo-West
Pacific. Sand and mud bottoms, from shore to 100 m.
239.2 Callionymus gardineri
Regan, 1908
Longtail dragonet
Langstert-drakie
Callionymus gardineri Regan, 1908: 248, PI. 30, Fig. 5 (Cargados
Carajos). Calliurichthys gardineri: Smith, SFSA No. 391. Callionymus
japonicus (non Houttuyn): Smith, 1963: 556*.
D IV +9; A 8; P 18-20. LL with 2-3 ventral branches in postorbital
region; lines of opposite sides connected by a branch across occiput
and 2 branches across dorsal part ofC peduncle. Head 3.4-3.9. Preopercular spine with a strong antrorse spine at its base and 6-12 small antrorse
serrae along dorsal margin. C elongate but not filamentous.
Body colour light to dark brown; usually black blotch on
distal part of 3rd D spine; A with black submarginal band.
Attains 28 cm. Natal northwards, in most parts of western
Indian Ocean. Occurs on mud bottoms in 30 - 180 m, mostly
in deeper water.
239.1 Cal/ionymus filamentosus: top: 9 em SL female; bottom: 8 em SL male; right: preopereular spine.
239.2 Cal/ionymus gardineri: top: 8.5 em SL female; bottom: 10.5 em SL male; right: preopereular spine.
771