Teleostei (teleosts) >
Dactylopteriformes (Flying gurnards) >
Pegasidae (Seamoths)
Etymology: Eurypegasus: Greek, eurys = long + Greek, Pegasus, pege = springs of Ocean near which Medusa was said to have been killed; the winged horse, sprung from the blood of Medusa (Ref. 45335); draconis: From the Latin word 'draco' meaning fabulous, lizard-like animal.
More on author: Linnaeus.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 3 - 91 m (Ref. 26165), usually 35 - 90 m (Ref. 33989). Tropical; 32°N - 32°S
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa (Ref. 4264) to Marquesan and Society Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia and Lord Howe Island; throughout Micronesia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3132)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 5; Vertebrae: 19 - 22. Color in life variable; body usually light to dark brown, with dorsal and lateral area darker than ventral surface. Pectoral fins hyaline, distal margin white and spotted. Pelvic fin spine and 1st ray forming an elongate, tentacular structure. 3 pairs of dorsolateral body plates; 4 pairs of ventrolateral body plates; tail rings 8 (rarely 9), mobile. A pair of deep pits posterior to orbit. Suborbital shelf concave, eye visible in ventral view. Ventral ridges of rostrum greatly expanded than dorsal ridges, each with laterally directed denticles. Anal papilla absent.
Inhabit lagoons often among algal or seagrass beds (Ref. 5503). Found on sand or silt bottoms, frequently in bays or estuaries (Ref. 3132). They are opportunistic feeders that collect mainly epifaunal and interstitial invertebrate prey, e.g., crustaceans and worms from the sediment-water interface (Ref. 31134). Shed their skin in one piece with a rapid jump periodically to rid themselves of accumulated ballast (Ref. 31134). Adults usually in pairs on muddy substrates (Ref. 48635). Has a monogamous mating system with close-pair bonding (Ref. 90102).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Are broadcast spawners. In several aquaria, spawning is observed as pairs rose to about 50 cm above the substrate, their ventral surfaces closely opposed, releasing gametes at the apex of their upward rush; then they glided down to the bottom. As the pairs landed on the substrate, the male continued to follow his mate. Release of gametes follows. Spawning occurred only within pairs (obligate and genetic monogamy) (Ref. 52884).
Palsson, W.A. and T.W. Pietsch, 1989. Revision of the Acanthopterygian fish Family Pegasidae (Order Gasterosteiformes). Indo-Pac. Fish. (18):38 p. (Ref. 1418)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 21.8 - 28.3, mean 26.7 °C (based on 757 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.7656 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.36 se; based on food items.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 145 [80, 343] mg/100g; Iron = 1.25 [0.67, 2.19] mg/100g; Protein = 18.4 [17.1, 19.6] %; Omega3 = 0.218 [0.102, 0.474] g/100g; Selenium = 48.1 [20.1, 106.8] μg/100g; VitaminA = 61 [17, 206] μg/100g; Zinc = 2.95 [1.88, 4.31] mg/100g (wet weight);
