Callionymidae, along with the Draconettidae and Gobiesocidae, previously were placed in the order Gobiesociformes (Allen, 1984). Recently, Nelson (1994) placed the Callionymidae and Draconettidae in the percifonn suborder Callionymoidei. The family is represented by three species in the western central North Atlantic Ocean, Diplogrammus pauciradiatus, Paradiplogrammus bairdi and Foetorepus agassizi (Davis, 1966; Robins and Ray, 1986). A detailed review ofthe family including early life history infonnation is given by Houde (1984) and Watson (1996).  (PDF contains 11 pages

Greene, Michael

Powell, Allyn B.

English

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NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-437 
PRELIMINARY GUIDE TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE EARLY LIFE HISTORY STAGES OF 
CALLIONYMID FISHES OF THE WESTERN CENTRAL ATLANTIC 
BY 
ALLYN B. POWELL AND MICHAEL GREENE 
u.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
National Marine Fisheries Service 
Southeast Fisheries Science Center 
Beaufort Laboratory 
101 Pivers Island Road 
Beaufort, NC 28516-9722 
March 2000 
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-437 
PRELIMINARY GUIDE TO THE IDENTIFICA nON OF THE EARLY LIFE HISTORY STAGES OF 
CALLIONYMID FISHES OF THE WESTERN CENTRAL ATLANTIC 
BY 
ALLYN B. POWELL AND MICHAEL GREENE 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 
William M. Daley, Secretary 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
D. James Baker, Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere 
National Marine Fisheries Service 
Penelope D. Dalton, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries 
March 2000 
This Technical Memorandum series is used for documentation and timely communication of preliminary results, 
interim reports, or similar special-purpose information. Although the memoranda are not subject to complete formal 
review, editorial control, or detailed editing, they are expected to reflect sound professional work. 
NOTICE 
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) does not approve, recommend or endorse any proprietary product or 
material mentioned in this publication. No reference shall be made to NMFS or to this publication furnished by 
NMFS, in any advertising or sales promotion which would imply that NMFS approves, recommends, or endorses 
any proprietary product or proprietary material mentioned herein or which has as its purpose any intent to cause 
directly or indirectly the advertised product to be used or purchased because of this NMFS publication. 
This report should be cited as follows: 
Powell, A. B. and M. Greene. 2000. Preliminary guide to the identification of the early life history stages of 
caIlionymid fishes of the western central Atlantic. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-437, 8 p. 
W. J. Richards, Editor. NOAA Fisheries, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 
This report will be posted on the Bethune Cookman College NOAA Cooperative web site later in 2000 at URL: 
http://208.152.233.21INOAA/ and will also appear on the SEFSC web site at URL: http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/ 
It will be a chapter entitled Callionymidae in the "Guide to the early life history stages of fishes of the western 
central Atlantic". 
Copies may be obtained by writing: 
The authors at 
NOAA Fisheries 
101 Pivers Island Road 
Beaufort, NC 28516-9722 
National Technical Information Center 
5825 Port Royal Road 
Springfield, VA 22161 
(800) 553-6847 or (703) 605-6000 
<http://www.ntis.gov/numbers.htm> 
ii 
Callionymidae: Dragonets 
A. B. Powell and M. Greene 
Callionymidae, along with the Draconettidae and Gobiesocidae, previously were placed in 
the order Gobiesociformes (Allen, 1984). Recently, Nelson (1994) placed the Callionymidae and 
Draconettidae in the percifonn suborder Callionymoidei. The family is represented by three 
species in the western central North Atlantic Ocean, Diplogrammus pauciradiatus, 
Paradiplogrammus bairdi and Foetorepus agassizi (Davis, 1966; Robins and Ray, 1986). A 
detailed review of the family including early life history infonnation is given by Houde (1984) 
and Watson (1996). 
The callionymids are small tropical and sub-tropical demersal fishes that, in our area, 
occur in shallow seagrass beds and in waters to depths of 650 m. Representatives of the family in 
the western central North Atlantic Ocean are chacterized by a small gill opening reduced to a 
pore and a preopercle spine that is useful for specific identification (Robins and Ray, 1986). All 
three species in our area appear to occupy different habitats. Diplogrammus pauciradiatus is 
found in shallow seagrass beds in tropical waters and based on ichthyoplankton collections 
(Olney and Sedberry, 1983; Powell and Robbins, 1998) this species is abundant in open-shelf 
waters (18-55 m) in the South Atlantic Bight (Cape Hatteras, NC to Cape Canaveral, FL). 
Paradiplogrammus bairdi are reported to occur only in south Florida (shallow reefs to 91m) 
within our area (Robins and Ray, 1986), but larvae, although in small numbers, occur throughout 
the year in South Atlantic Bight outer-shelf waters in close proximity to the Gulf Stream (Olney 
and Sedberry, 1983). Fortorepus agassizi ranges from Georgia south in depths of91-650 m and 
collections of larvae have not been confinned nor have their larvae been described. 
Callionymids, in general, have colorless, pelagic, spherical eggs measuring from 0.55 to 
0.97 mm and lack oil globules. The chorion may be sculptured in some species, but in some it is 
not. Newly hatched larvae are small (generally <1.5 mm). Preflexion larvae are robust, laterally 
compressed with moderate to heavy pigment. A characteristic series of lateral melanophores 
develops during the preflexion stage and remains throughout the larval period. The diagnostic 
preopercle spine begins to develop between 3.5 to 5.0 mm, during or just following notochord 
flexion. By postflexion they are more cylindrical in body shape and have developed the 
diagnostic elongate notochord tip (Houde, 1984; Watson, 1996). 
Callionymid larvae should be readily separated from other larvae on the basis of their 
characteristic pigment pattern, preopercle spination, body morphology, low myomere count and 
the elongate notochord tip. At least in our area, they could be confused with preflexion 
tetraodonts or monacanthids, but the characteristic callionymid lateral pigment should readily 
separate these larvae. Callionymids might also be confused with early stage sciaenids such as 
deep-bodied Menticirrhus spp., and Cynoscion nebulosus, both of which exhibit lateral pigment. 
Myomere counts will readily separate callionymids from these sciaenids. The following 
descriptions of D. pauciradiatus and P. bairdi were derived from specimens ranging from 1.2 
mm NL - 3.6 mm SL, and 2.1 mm NL - 6.0 mm SL, respectively collected from waters off 
North Carolina. We did not observe any flexion larvae in our collections. Meristic data were 
obtained from our collections, Davis (1966) and Olney and Sedberry (1983). Ecological 
information was obtained from Davis (1966), Olney and Sedberry (1983) and Powell and 
Robbins (1998). 
2 
Table Callionymidae 1. Meristic characters for the callionymid species occurring in the western 
central North Atlantic. All species have 1,5 pelvic fin rays, IV first dorsal fm spines and 7 
principal caudal rays. 
Vertebrae Fin rays 
Species PrCv CV Total D A PI 
Diplogrammus pauciradiatus 7 11 18 6(5-7) 4(4-5) 16-19 
Paradiplogrammus bairdi 7 14(15) 21(21-22) 9(8-10) 8(6-9) 19-20 
Foetorepus agassizi 7 14 21 8 7 21-22(20-23) 
3 
Callionymidae 
MERISTICS 
Vertebrae: 
Precaudal 
Caudal 
Total 
Number of Fin Spines and Rays: 
First Dorsal 
Second Dorsal 
Total Dorsal Elements 
Anal 
Total Anal Elements 
Pectoral 
Pelvic 
Dorsal Secondary 
Principal 
Ventral Secondary 
Total 
Branchiostegals 
LIFE HISTORY 
7 
11 
18 
IV 
6(5-7) 
10(9-11) 
4(4-5) 
4(4-5) 
17-18(16-19) 
1,5 
3 
7 
3 
13 
6 
Range: North Carolina, Bermuda to Columbia 
Habitat: Seagrass beds in sub-tropical and tropical 
waters; continental shelf waters (18-55 m) in 
temperate waters. 
ELH Pattern: Oviparous, planktonic larvae 
Spawning: 
Season: Throughout the year in tropical waters; 
spring through fall in temperate and subtropical 
waters 
Area: Bays and shallows in sub-tropical and 
tropical waters; continental shelf in temperate 
waters. 
Mode: Planktonic eggs and larvae 
Age at First Maturity: Males at 12-15 mm; 
females 11-12 mm. 
LITERATURE 
Davis (1966) 
Olney and Sedberry (1983) 
Houde and Lovdal (1984) 
Robins and Ray (1986) 
Powell and Robbins (1998) 
4 
Diplogrammus pauciradiatus (Gill) 
EARLY LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTION 
EGGS: 
Hatch Size: <1.2 mm NL 
LARVAE: 
Length at Flexion: Between 2.2 mm NL and 2.8 mm 
NL 
Sequence of Fin Development: DI & A, C & P C PI I 2, 2, 
Pi~entation: Pre flexion-Dorsal head and body 
plgment 
ge~erally absent, nape pigment might be present; 
plgment 
at gular and lower jaw angle; heavy gut pigment; 
dashes 
along lateral midline at mid-body; ventrolateral 
caudal pigment extending over gut. 
Flexion - postflexion-- embeddded pigment edge of 
midbrain and minute punctate over midbrain and 
hindbrain; 
lower jaw angle and along lower jaw; below and 
behind eyes; base of pelvic fm; dorsal pigment forms 
in 
aggregates, at 4.0 mm three saddles form; minute 
punctate from midbrain to beyond nape and between 
saddles; embeddded over gut. 
Diagnostic Characters: Long notochord tip; heavy 
ventrolateral gut pigment; three distinctive dorsal 
saddles; low myomere count. 
Distinguish from Paradiplogrammus bairdi 
by heavy ventrolateral gut pigment, absence 
of scattered dorsal pigment, but presence of 
saddles; meristic characters. 
JUVENILES: Like adults 
I LLUSTRATIONS (Illustrator) 
Preflexion larvae, 1.2 mm, 1.9 mm (original-M. 
Greene) 
Postflexion larvae, 3.4 mm, 3.6 mm (original-M. 
Greene) 
Flexion larva 2.5 mm from Olney & Sedberry 1983 
Postflexion larvae 3.4, 3.6, 4.3 mm from Olney & 
Sedberry 1983 
CaJlionymidae Diplogrammus pauciradiatus 
1.2mm 
1.9mm 
2.5 mm 
3.4mm 
3.6 mm 
4.3mm 
5 
Callionymidae 
MERISTICS 
Vertebrae: 
Precaudal 
Caudal 
Total 
Number of Fin Spines and Rays: 
First Dorsal 
Second Dorsal 
Total Dorsal Elements 
Anal 
Pectoral 
Pelvic 
Caudal 
Dorsal Secondary 
Principal 
Ventral Secondary 
Total 
Branchiostegals 
LIFE HISTORY 
7 
14(15) 
21(21-22) 
IV 
9(8-10) 
13(22-24) 
8(6-9) 
19-20 
1,5 
4(5) 
7 
4 
15( 16) 
6 
Range: Bermuda, sotherrn Florida, and Bahamas 
to northern South America 
Habitat: Reefs and rocky rubble areas to 91 m. 
ELH Pattern: Oviparous, planktonic larvae 
Spawning: 
Season: Possibly every month. 
Area: Subtropical and tropical waters. 
Mode: Pelagic eggs and larvae. 
Migration: Movement from shallows to 
deeper water with increasing size. 
LITERATURE 
Davis (1966) 
Olney and Sedberry (1983) 
Powell and Robbins (1998) 
6 
Paradiplogrammus bairdi (Jordan) 
EARLY LIFE mSTORY DESCRIPTION 
EGGS: 
Hatch Size: <1.7 nun NL 
LARVAE: 
Length at Flexion: >2.1 mm NL 
Length at Transformation: 
Sequence ?fFin Development: 
Pigmentation: Pre flexion-semicircle along 
edge of midbrain and hindbrain; ventrolateral; 
ventral midline extends over anterior of gut; 
dorsolateral in two indistinct rows. 
Posiflexion-semicircle along edge of midbrain 
and hindbrain; two discrete rows at dorsal midline; 
sparse ventral caudal pigment; over gut. 
With increasing size-pelvic membranes 
pigmented; midbrain and hindbrain extends 
over entire surface and extends along dosolateral 
surface; gular pigment. Large postlexion, ca. > 5.5 
mm, 
appear devoid of pigment except for pelvic fm 
membranes and brain pigment. 
Diagnostic Characters: Long notochord tip; dorsal 
pigment; low myomere count 
Distinguish from Diplogrammus pauciradiatus 
by lack of ventrolateral gut pigment; presence of 
two rows of caudal dorsal pigment; unique brain 
pigment; meristic characters. 
JlNENILES: Like adults 
ILLUSTRATIONS (Illustrator) 
Preflexion larvae, 2.1 rom (original- M. Greene) 
Postflexion larvae, 3.4rom, 4.3 rom (original-M. 
Greene); 4.2 rom from Olney & Sedberry 1983 
Callionymidae Paradiplogrammus bairdi 
2.1 mm 
3.4mm 
4.2 mm 
4.3 mm 
7 
Literature Cited 
Allen, L. G. 1984. Gobiesociformes: development and relationships. Pages 629-636 in H. G. 
Moser, W. J. Richards, D. M. Cohen, M. P. Fahay, A. W. Kendall, Jr. and S. L. 
Richardson (eds). Ontogeny and systematics of fishes. American. Society of 
Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Spec. Publ. (1). 760 p. 
Davis, W. P. 1966. A review of the dragonets (pisces: Callionymidae) of the western Atlantic. 
Copeia 1966: 834-862. 
Houde, E. D. 1984. Callionymidae: development and relationships. Pages 637-640 in H. G. 
Moser, W. J. Richards, D. M. Cohen, M. P. Fahay, A. W. Kendall, Jr. and S. L. 
Richardson (eds.). Ontogeny and systematics of fishes. American. Society of 
Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Spec. Publ. (1). 760 p. 
Houde, E. D. and J. A. Lovdai. 1984. Seasonality of occurrence, foods and food preferences of 
ichthyoplankton in Biscayne Bay, Florida. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 18: 403-419. 
Nelson, J. S. ~994. Fishes of the world. 3rd ed. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 600 p. 
Olney, J. E. and G. R. Sedberry. 1983. Dragonet larvae (Teleostei, Callionymidae) in continental 
shelf waters off eastern United States. BioI. Oceanogr. 3: 103-122. 
Powell, A. B. and R. E. Robbins. 1998. Ichthyoplankton adjacent to live-bottom habitats in 
Onslow Bay, North Carolina. NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS 133: 32 p. 
Robins, C. R. and G. C. Ray. 1986. A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. 
Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA. 354 p. 
Watson, W. 1996. Callionymidae: dragonets. Pages 1205-1207 in H. G. Moser (ed.). The early 
stages of fishes in the California Current region. Calififornia Cooperative Oceanic 
Fisheries Investigations, Atlas (33): 1505 p. 
8 


Preliminary guide to the indentification of the early life history stages of Callionymid fishes of the Western Central Atlantic

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Preliminary guide to the indentification of the early life history stages of Callionymid fishes of the Western Central Atlantic

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