Tonlesapia amnica Ng & Rainboth, 2011
Mekong delta dragonet
Tonlesapia amnica
photo by Ng, H.H.

Family:  Callionymidae (Dragonets)
Max. size:  3.76 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: Vietnam.
Diagnosis:  Tonlesapia amnica differs from its only congener, T. tsukawakii, in having the infraorbital canal extending beyond (vs. not reaching) ventral margin of orbit, a more slender body (7.2–13.5% SL vs. 14.3–15.0) and caudal peduncle (4.4–5.2% SL vs. 5.1–6.3), a smaller eye (6.5–8.3% SL vs. 8.7–9.2) and more dorsal-fin rays (9–10 vs. 8) (Ref. 87929).
Biology:  The Song Hau Giang which is a branch of the Mekong River also known as the Bassac River is fairly clear, slow flowing (current about 0.2 ms-1) and wide (2 km) with a sand and silt bottom. This species has also been collected from brackish habitats and is the third species of Indo-Pacific callionymid known to inhabit freshwaters (the other species being Callionymus fluviatilis and T. tsukawakii) (Ref. 87929).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 January 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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