WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Hawaiian Seamoth Fish

Eurypegasus papilio

Also known as: Dragonette, Dragonfish, Dwarf Seamoth, Hawaiian Seamoth, Little Dragonfish, Little Seamoth, Pegasus Fish, Pegasus Seamoth, Short Dragonfish, Short Seamoth

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2016
Adult
@FishyFishyFishyOh · Shedd Aquarium, United States · July 20191 / 1
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Overview

Found singly, or in pairs, "walking" with finger-like pelvic fins! over sand and silty bottoms, of moderately deep bays and estuaries. These little fish are able to shed their skin in one piece, with a rapid jump periodically, to rid themselves of accumulated ballast.
Eastern Central Pacific - Hawaiian Islands

The Little Dragonfish can be recognised by its distinctive shape and bony armour.
They are often overlooked because they are so small and resemble pieces of shell or rubble lying on the sandy bottom.
Males have a broad blue-white pectoral fin margins which may be "flashed" when the fish is disturbed.
Found "walking" with finger-like pelvic fins!

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How to identify

Pattern
speckled

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Eastern Central Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in pairs, "walking" with finger-like pelvic fins!

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Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderDactylopteriformes
    5. familyPegasidae
    6. genusEurypegasus
    7. speciesEurypegasus papilio (Gilbert, 1905)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Dactylopteriformes