Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D1, IV; D2, 8; A, VI +1; P, 18-19; V, I + 5  photo :

SHORT DESCRIPTION Elongated body with slightly depressed head (3.1-3.5 times in SL). Short snout. Large eyes (2.3-3.2 times in head length) with very short distance between them. A preoperculum spine with three upward recurved points. Small sub-lateral gill opening without free operculum flaps. Two dorsal fins, the first fin of the male much higher than the second. The second dorsal fin and anal fins membrane deeply incised. Pectoral fin rounded. Pelvic fin thoracic with wide base. Caudal fin rounded. No scales on the body. color : Brownish-red body with brown marks. Large black bloches on the first dorsal fin and two wide vertical bars on the caudal fin. Grey to white belly. size : 5-10 cm (max 12 cm) DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Synchirops phaeton – Preoperculum spine with two upward points. Callionymus spp. – Dorsal gill opening. Large membrane behind second to last dorsal ray. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds on small benthic invertebrates. habitat : Sandy or muddy substrate to depth of 50 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Gulf of Antalya, Turkey. (Gökoglu et al 2014). DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Red Sea, Western Indian Ocean, south-western Pacific Ocean (Chesterfield Island to New Caledonia). Mediterranean : Gulf of Antalya, Turkey. ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Rare, only a few specimens were collected in the Levant. MODE OF INTRODUCTION Probably via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Fricke, R. 2002. Annotated checklist of the Dragonet Families Callinymidae ‏and Draconettidae (Teleossteei: Callionymoidei), with comments on‏ callionymid fish classification. Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde Serie ‏A (Biologie)645, 1-103. Gökoglu, M., Özvarol, Y. and Fricke, R. 2014. Synchirops sechellensis Regan, 1908 (Teleostei: Callionymidae), a new Lessepsian migrant in the Mediterranean Sea. Mediterranean Marine Science 15(2), 440-442. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: January 2017 ©ciesm 2002