The Pegasus sea moth, Eurypegasus draconis, is also known as the little or short dragonfish.
This fish species belongs to the family Pegasidae, which comprises around five species of small elongated marine fish that inhabit the tropical Indo-Pacific region.
E. draconis inhabits the sandy or silty substrates of lagoons, usually in pairs, foraging amongst algal or seagrass beds for invertebrate prey, including worms and crustaceans.
Dragonfish can reach just over 15 centimeters (6 inches) in length and their bodies are protected by rings of bony armor which is fused on the head and body, but not the flexible tail.
They have large wing-like pectoral fins with finger-like rays, and a long snout. The skin is shed periodically with a rapid jump to jettison debris that accumulates on the surface of the fish.
In this video, you can see a pair of dragonfish moving across a silty substrate together in Lembeh Strait in Indonesia.
Matthew Oldfield is a freelance photographer based in Bali, Indonesia, specializing in editorial and documentary images from both above and below the waves. He works primarily with charities, NGO’s, and other organizations working to conserve the environment, endangered species, and disappearing cultures.
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