Foetorepus agassizii
A cool-water dragonet found from 10 to 19 C, rarely logged and easy to mistake for its reef relatives.
Grows to around 17 cm, with an elongated, slightly flattened body that sits low against sand or rubble rather than swimming in open water. Mottled brown and tan patterning breaks up its outline against the seabed, and like other dragonets it has large, frog-like eyes set high on the head. Look for the exaggerated first dorsal fin rays typical of the genus, which can flare up like a small sail when the fish is disturbed.
Like most dragonets, this is a bottom-dweller that spends most of its time motionless on sand, rubble or fine sediment, relying on camouflage rather than fleeing. Divers who do encounter one usually spot it during slow, close-focus searches along the seabed rather than mid-water. It tends to sit still until closely approached, then makes a short, low hop to a new patch of bottom.
Dragonets in this genus lack scales entirely, relying instead on a coating of protective mucus on bare skin, a trait that sets them apart from most other bottom-dwelling reef fish.
There isn't enough monthly sighting data yet to identify a season, so treat this as a year-round possibility wherever water temperatures sit in its 10.3 to 18.8 C comfort range.
Reef neighbours a diver could mistake it for. Use the identification notes above to tell them apart.
Logging data for this species is currently too sparse to name reliable dive sites or regions with confidence. What is known from its temperature niche points to cooler, temperate waters rather than tropical reef systems.
Mapping where Spotfin Dragonet is logged…
No match
Sighting records for this species are too limited right now to point to specific dive sites or countries. Its known temperature range suggests cooler, temperate coastal waters rather than typical tropical dive destinations.
There isn't enough data to identify a clear season, so sightings are treated as possible year-round within its 10.3 to 18.8 C temperature niche.
Look for a small, scaleless fish around 17 cm long, mottled brown and tan, resting flat on sand or rubble with large high-set eyes and an elongated first dorsal fin. It rarely swims far, preferring short hops along the bottom.
They reach around 17 cm in length, making them one of the smaller bottom-dwelling fish a diver might spot while scanning sand or rubble patches.
Dragonets have no scales at all, instead protecting their skin with a layer of mucus, which is unusual among bottom-dwelling reef and sand fish.
Site and sighting data is aggregated from diver logs, iNaturalist and GBIF. For taxonomy and conservation status:
Starry Dragonet
66 sites
