CALLIONYMIDAE Dactylopus dactylopus, 8.6 cm SL (photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin) Dactylopus dactylopus (Valenciennes, 1837) Fingered Dragonet D IV+8; A 7; P1 19. Body subcylindrical or slightly compressed; no transverse canal branch connecting opposite lateral line canals on caudal peduncle. Distal part of dorsal fin spines elongate and usually filiform; all rays of second dorsal fin branched; spine and first ray of pelvic fin connected together, free from other rays. Color: head and body brownish with various-sized pale brown spots. Size: 25 cm. Distribution: Andaman Sea, eastern Indian Ocean around Australia, and West Pacific. Remarks: inhabits coastal shallow sandy-mud bottoms, especially seagrass beds. Carnivorous, feeds on small molluscs, polychaetes, and crustaceans. Often marketed locally.