Examples of fish that look like a dragon include Asian Arowana, axolotl, common seadragon, dragon moray eel, and dragonet.
Dragons are a popular topic in mythology and legend, but many people don’t know that there are real-life animals that resemble these mythical creatures. Fish that look like dragons are a perfect example of this—they have long, serpentine bodies and brightly-colored scales that make them look like tiny dragons.
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at fish that look like dragons and explore some of the most interesting facts about them.
Examples of Fish that Looks Like a Dragon
1. Asian Arowana
| Scientific Name | Scleropages formosus |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | Southeast Asia |
The Asian arowana is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia. It’s one of the most popular aquarium fish in the world, and it’s easy to see why—the Asian arowana is a beautiful creature with iridescent scales that come in a variety of colors.
Asian arowanas are sometimes called “dragonfish” because of their dragon-like appearance. These fish can grow to be over three feet long, and they have long, slender bodies with small fins.
Asian arowanas is that they’re known to jump out of water to catch prey. They’re also proficient climbers, and they’ve been known to climb trees and walls in the wild.
Related Article: 39 Fish that Are Endangered
2. Axolotl
| Scientific Name | Ambystoma mexicanum |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | Lake Xochimilco in the Valley of Mexico, as well as the canals and waterways of Mexico City |
The axolotl, also known as the Mexican walking fish, is a type of salamander that can be found in freshwater lakes and canals in Mexico. What sets the axolotl apart from other salamanders is its ability to regenerate lost body parts, which is why it’s sometimes called the “living dragon fish.”
The axolotl has a long, snake-like body with four legs that are each equipped with webbing. Its skin is dark brown or black in color and is covered in small bumps. Its most distinctive feature is its large head, which is shaped like a triangle.
The axolotl is a carnivore and its diet consists mainly of worms, insects, and small fish.
Related Article: 19 Fish that Breathe Air
3. Common Seadragon
| Scientific Name | Phyllopteryx taeniolatus |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | Australian waters of the Eastern Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and the South Western Pacific Ocean |
The term “sea dragon” can refer to two different groups of animals: seahorses and leafy sea dragons. Both of these creatures are fish that have long, slender bodies and unique scales.
Sea dragons are a type of fish that is closely related to the pipefish. They get their name from their horse-like heads and their ability to “rear up” on their tails. Sea dragons are found in warm, shallow waters all over the world.
Related Article: 29 Fish that Live in Coral Reefs
4. Dragon Moray Eel
| Scientific Name | Enchelycore pardalis |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | throughout the Indo-Pacific oceans from Réunion to the Hawaiian, Line, and Society Islands, north to southern Japan, southern Korea, and south to New Caledonia |
The Dragon Moray Eel is a species of moray eel that is native to the Indo-Pacific region. It grows to an average length of 3 feet and has a dark brown or black body with yellow spots. The Dragon Moray Eel is a nocturnal predator that preys on small fish and invertebrates.
Related Article: 22 Fish that Walk
5. Dragonet
| Scientific Name | Callionymidae |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | mainly in the tropical waters of the western Indo-Pacific |
The dragonet is a small, brightly-colored fish that is found in the reefs of the Indo-Pacific region. Dragonets are named for their dragon-like appearance, which is characterized by long bodies and large heads. These fish grow to be about 4-5 inches in length.
Dragonets are carnivorous predators that feed on small invertebrates. They are bottom-dwellers that use their long, slender bodies to maneuver through the crevices of coral reefs in search of food.
Related Article: 10 Fish Adaptations
6. Dragon face Pipefish
| Scientific Name | Corythoichthys haematopterus |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | open oceans at a depth of around 400 meters (approximately 1300 feet) |
The dragon face pipefish is a member of the Syngnathidae family, which also includes seahorses and pipefishes. The dragon face pipefish is a type of fish that’s found in the waters around Indonesia. As its name suggests, this fish has a long, snout-like mouth that resembles a dragon’s head. The dragon face pipefish is also known for its colorful scales, which can be various shades of green, blue, or brown.
7. Gray Bichir
| Scientific Name | Polypterus senegalus |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | lakes, river margins, swamps, and floodplains of tropical Africa and the Nile river system |
These fish are native to Africa and can grow to be over two feet long. They have a long, eel-like body and gray scales that are covered in tiny black spots. Gray bichirs are excellent swimmers and use their pectoral fins to prop themselves up and move around on land.
8. Leafy Seadragon
| Scientific Name | Phycodurus eques |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | in the cooler rocky reefs off south and western Australia |
The Leafy Seadragon is a type of fish that is native to the waters off the coast of Australia. These strange-looking creatures are related to seahorses and have a long, snake-like body that is covered in leaf-like appendages. These appendages help to camouflage the Leafy Seadragon as it floats among the seaweed and coral in its habitat.
Leafy Seadragons are gentle creatures that feed on tiny crustaceans and plankton. These fish are not often seen by humans, as they live in deep water and are very well-camouflaged.
9. Polypterus Teugelsi
| Scientific Name | Polypterus teugelsi |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | the Cross River drainage basin in the country of Cameroon |
The African dragonfish (Polypterus teugelsi) is a species of bony fish that is native to freshwater habitats in Africa. It gets its name from its long, snake-like body and colorful scales. The African dragonfish can grow up to 2 feet in length and is one of the largest species in the Polypterus genus.
The African dragonfish is a predatory fish that feeds on smaller fish and invertebrates. It uses its long, sharp teeth to grasp and eat its prey. The African dragonfish is also known to be a voracious eater, and it has been known to eat much larger prey items than its own body size.
10. Polypterus Weeksii
| Scientific Name | Polypterus weeksii |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | the Congo River |
The Polypterus weeksii can grow up to 18 inches in length and it has a long, eel-like body. This fish is brown or gray in color with black spots on its fins.
The Polypterus weeksii is a nocturnal predator that feeds on smaller fish, crustaceans, and insects. This fish breathes through gills and has four pairs of barbels around its mouth, which help it to locate food in the dark.
The Polypterus weeksii is an endangered species due to habitat loss and overfishing.
11. Barbeled Dragonfish
| Scientific Name | Stomiidae |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | southern subtropical and temperate oceans between latitudes 25°S and 60°S, at depths down to 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) |
The barbeled dragonfish is a predatory fish that is found in deep, dark waters. It has a long, slender body and large eyes that help it to see in the dark. This fish also has two long barbels protruding from its lower jaw, which it uses to sense its prey.
The barbeled dragonfish is a ferocious predator, and it is known to eat other fish, squid, and crustaceans. This fish has sharp teeth that can slice through flesh, and it also has venomous barbs on its fins that can paralyze its prey.
12. Violet Goby
| Scientific Name | Gobioides broussonnetii |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | marine, fresh and brackish waters near the Atlantic coast of North and South America from South Carolina in the United States of America, to northern Brazil |
The violet goby is a small, colorful fish that is native to the Mediterranean Sea. These fish are known for their vibrant violet coloration and long, dragon-like bodies. Violet gobies can grow up to 8 inches in length and are typically found in shallow waters near the shore.
The male goby will carefully select each piece of the nest and then use his mouth to build it up into a mound. Once the nest is complete, the female goby will lay her eggs inside of it and the male will fertilize them. The male goby will then stay with the eggs until they hatch, at which point he will carefully guide the young gobies out of the nest and into the water.
13. Dragon Goby
| Scientific Name | Gobioides broussonnetii |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | brackish waters throughout North, Central, and South America |
The dragon goby is a species of fish that is native to the waters of Southeast Asia. It gets its name from its long, snake-like body and bright colors. The dragon goby can grow up to 18 inches in length, and it is typically a brown or green color with orange or yellow stripes running down its sides.
Dragon gobies are bottom-dwellers, and they prefer to live in areas with lots of rocks and hiding places. They are omnivorous, which means that they eat both plants and animals. Their diet consists of small invertebrates, such as shrimp and crabs, as well as algae.
Conclusion
The most common animals that looks like dragons are seahorses and leafy sea dragons. Both of these creatures are fish that have long, slender bodies and unique scales. Seahorses are found in warm, shallow waters all over the world, while leafy sea dragons are found in the waters off the coast of Australia. Both of these creatures are protected by law in many countries due to their slow-moving nature and vulnerability to predators.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.