page_title: Synchiropus phaeton
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Synchiropus phaeton / Description
caption_attribution_description: English: This picture shows the preopercular spine of the phaeton dragonet which can be used to identify the species. The preopercular spine is located on the gill and highlighted by the probe
context_page_description: Synchiropus phaeton or the Phaeton dragonet is a species of bony fish of the family Callionymidae, the dragonets. It can be found in the Mediterranean and in the eastern Atlantic.
context_section_description: Synchiropus phaeton is a relatively small animal with a sexual dimorphism in size where the male fish generally are larger than the female fish. Male fish grow up to 10-14 cm with a maximum total length of 18 cm reported. Female fish can grow up to 12 cm with 6-10 cm being common although sizes greater 20 cm are reported. They are characterized by their big eyes which are sitting inside the skull and an extraordinary spiny structure on the top of their gill cover (preopercular spine). Their body has an orange or red colour dorsally with yellow to olive patches on their skin. The belly colour can vary from pinkish to silvery. The dorsal fin has a black blotch between the third and fourth spine, whereas the anal fin has a black streak or margin.
caption: Preopercular spine of Synchiropus phaeton.
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