Biodiversity & Conservation

Common dragonet - Callionymus lyra

Callionymus lyra

Image Steve Trewhella - Front view of Callionymus lyra. Image width ca 10 cm.
Image copyright information

  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
Distribution map

Callionymus lyra recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

Sightings Have you seen Callionymus lyra?
If so please submit your record.

Callionymus lyra is not listed under any importance categories.

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy Taxon English term
Phylum Chordata Sea squirts, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals
Class Actinopterygii Ray-finned fish, e.g. sturgeon, eels, fin fish, gobies, blennies, and seahorses
Authority Linnaeus, 1758
Recent synonyms None
Map icon Recorded Distribution in Britain and Ireland Widespread all along the coasts of Britain and Ireland.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Demersal, found in the sublittoral to depths of 430 m. More usually at depths of 5 to 50 m. Mainly a temperate species in waters 16-20 °C. Callionymus lyra lives on the sea bed, often partially buried in sand or shell gravel.
Text page icon Description Callionymus lyra is the largest (up to 30 cm) and most common dragonet in UK waters. Small specimens could be confused with gobies. However, the broader and triangular head distinguishes it, together with a longer snout and jutting lower jaw. Mature males have elongate dorsal and caudal fin rays, the second dorsal being yellowish with bright blue longitudinal stripes and bright blue marks on the head and body. Females and immature males are brown and lighter ventrally with a series of 6 brown blotches along the sides. Three symmetrical brown saddles are present along the back with indistinct darker stripes lengthwise on the second dorsal fin. Females are usually up to 20 cm long and males up to 30 cm. This species can blend perfectly with coarse sand or gravel substrata. The fins are often folded down when the fish is on the sea bed.
Identifying features
  • Flattened body without scales.
  • Triangular head when viewed from above.
  • Eyes on top of head.
  • Two dorsal fins, the first one triangular, tall and sail-like.
  • Colourful males with long first ray in first dorsal fin.
  • Sharp spines on pre-operculum.
  • Second dorsal and anal fin membrane with bright blue horizontal lines.
  • Usually 9 rays in second dorsal fin.
Additional information icon Additional information Dragonets are small fish of shallow inshore waters. They are demersal and often found partially buried in sand or shell gravel. Adaptations to this mode of life include the dorsally situated gill opening and the flattened body shape. The diet of Callionymus lyra consists mainly of polychaete worms, amphipod crustaceans and molluscs, especially cockles.

This review can be cited as follows:

Judith Oakley 2008. Callionymus lyra. Common dragonet. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 20/06/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=2844>