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Mandarin Fish (Synchiropus splendidus) - Marine fish

A blenny going out of its hiding place in the French Mediterranean Sea

Synchiropus splendidus, the mandarinfish or mandarin dragonet, is a small, brightly colored member of the dragonet family. The mandarinfish is native to the Pacific, ranging approximately from the Ryukyu Islands south to Australia.

Mandarinfish are reef dwellers, preferring sheltered lagoons and inshore reefs.

$Mandarin fishes inhabit shallow protected lagoons and inshore reefs. They occur in the Western Pacific from Ryukyu Islands to Australia, usually in small groups spread over small area in a depth range from 1-18m, max. length 7cm. \nMandarinfish do not have scales, but a mucus layer for protection. It is not only a stinky slime they produce, but they also secrete a toxin to protect them against predators. Their dramatic colouration, known as aposematism, is a warning: unpalatability and toxicity - both prey and predator get to live longer. \nThe couples perform an extraordinary courtship dance at dusk. Females gather at the reef, judging if a male is worthy. A male who has successfully courted a lady attaches to her at the pelvic fin. Then the pair swim up from the reef towards the waters surface, releasing a cloud of sperm and around 200 eggs smaller than 1mm. \nThis specimen is a male: The presence of an elongated spine at the front of the first dorsal fin of males is distinctive. Females will not have this spike and will have a rounded first dorsal fin instead. In this case, there was a female too, but she didn't make it into the photo.\nBanda Neira Island, Indonesia, \n4°30'40.842 S 129°53'19.71 E at 1.5m depth$

Small tropical fish Mandarinfish close-up. Sipadan. Celebes sea

Green scat (Scatophagus argus), also known as the spotted scat. Wildlife animal.

Colorful Coral Reef Teeming with Exotic Fish. Lively and colorful coral reef in a vibrant underwater world. Diverse array of tropical fish swimming freely in their aquatic environment, creating a mesmerizing scene for nature and animal enthusiasts alike. Lion fish.

Mandarinfish have a layer of slime instead of scales that protects it from disease and predators.

A big Lion Fish up and close to the camera with a blue background.

Mandarin fish are small marine fish with beautiful colors.

Pretty mandarin fish in coral reef aquarium

Beautiful color mandarin fish, mandarin fish fighting, mandarin fish closeup, Mandarinfish or Mandarin dragonet

A Synchiropus splendidus in Lembeh Strait in Indonesia

Mandarin dragonet (Synchiropus Picturatos

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