Responses of Gross's stinkfish, Callionymus grossi (Ogilby 1910) to perceived threats

Abstract

Predator avoidance is critical to fish survival and yet multiple types of predator response are rarely recorded at the level of individuals let alone studied in detail. Behaviour of an individual adult male dragonet, Gross's stinkfish Callionymus grossi (Ogilby 1910) (Family Callionymidae) was observed over the course of four consecutive daily snorkelling sessions on high tides in the Maroochy River estuary, Queensland, Australia. On two occasions, the dragonet buried in the sand in the presence of a great barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda, whereas, smaller benthic predators or competitors and the observer sometimes provoked dorsal fin raising and fleeing responses of the dragonet. The dragonet, therefore, demonstrates multiple responses to potential predators and competitors seemingly depending on the likely severity of interaction. Further research of dragonet fishes is recommended to disentangle the functionality of fin display in this group, with the anti-predator function of fin displays and honest signalling of chemical defence a promising aspect for investigation.