Mandarinfish
📖 Overview
Inhabits shallow protected lagoons and inshore reefs . Found on silty bottoms with coral and rubble . Usually in small groups spread over small area . Minimum depth reported from Ref. 27115. Has been reared in captivity . Well-known aquarium fish. .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 6 - 8. Rare individuals have a bright red ground color . Preopercular spine 0[2-5/0]1 .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Mandarinfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Based on the gut analyses of seven wild fish Sadovy et al. (2001) determined that the mandarinfish has a mixed diet that consists of harpacticoid copepods, polychaete worms, small gastropods, gammaridean amphipods, fish eggs and ostracods. In the wild, feeding is continuous during daytime; the fish peck selectively at small prey trapped on coral substrate in a home range of many square meters.
🥚 Reproduction
Pairs ascend in close contact towards the surface where eggs and sperm are released (aquarium observation, Ref. 36808).
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 18 m , usually 1 - 18 m . Tropical
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Mandarinfish is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked — Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18.8 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 162 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Mandarinfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Green mandarin · Mandarin dragonet · Mandarin-fish · Mandarinfish · Peixe-mandarim · Splendid Mandarinfish |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | سمك ماندارين |
| 🌍AZE | Mandarinka |
| 🌍BUL | Риба мандарин |
| 🏳️Catalan | peix mandarí |
| 🌍CES | vřeténka mandarín |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Mandarinfisk |
| 🇩🇪German | Mandarin-Leierfisch · Mandarinfisch |
| 🌍EPO | Mandarena fiŝo |
| 🌍EST | Kaunis mandariinkala · Mandariin-paabulüürakala |
| 🌍FAS | ماهی ماندارین |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Mandariinikala |
| 🇫🇷French | Poisson mandarin |
| 🌍GLG | Peixe mandarín |
| 🌍HEB | מנדרין |
| 🇭🇷Croatian | Mandarinska riba |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Mandarinhal |
| 🌍HYE | Մանդարինկա |
| 🌍IND | Ikan mandarin |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pesce mandarino · Pesce mandarino splendido |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Nishiki-teguri · ニシキテグリ |
| 🌍KIR | Мандаринбалык |
| 🇰🇷Korean | 만다린피시 |
| 🌍LTZ | Mandarinfësch |
| 🌍MSA | Bebaji · Bebaji batik |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Blauwe mandarijnpitvis |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Mandaryn wspaniały |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Mandarim-real · Peixe-mandarim |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Pez Mandarín Dragón |
| 🌍THA | ปลามังกรน้อยแมนดาริน · ปลาแมนดาริน |
| 🌍TUR | Mandalina balığı |
| 🌍UKR | Мандаринка |
| 🌍VIE | Cá trạng nguyên |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 狗圻 · 老鼠 · 花斑翼連鰭 · 花斑連鰭䲗 · 花斑連鰭 · 青蛙 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callionymus splendidus | Herre | 1927 | Synonym |
| Neosynchiropus splendidus | Herre | 1927 | Synonym |
| Pterosynchiropus splendidus | Herre | 1927 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 14 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet — be the first to log one!
View all observations for Mandarinfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.