Editing Dragonet (section)

==Feeding==

Feeding by the dragonet occurs throughout the day, including the intervals between courtships and spawning. The fish feeds entirely on [[benthic]] sources, primarily [[copepods]], [[amphipods]], and other small [[invertebrates]] living on blades of sea grass.<ref name=Dragonets>{{cite web|url=http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/Dragonets/|title=Dragonets|publisher=Aquatic Community|access-date=2013-11-15}}</ref> Species of dragonets from different locations show variations in specific food preference, attributable to the different availabilities and abundances of food organisms in those places. All of them feed by extending their highly protractible jaws toward their food and drawing it into the mouths, frequently followed by the expulsion of sand. No evidence suggests that dragonets are territorial. Individuals do not defend specific areas of substrate, as well as any resources that might be present on them, from intrusion by conspecifics or other fish species.<ref name=Behavior/>

Among ''Calliurichthys japonicus'' and ''Repomucenus huguenini'', the two most abundant dragonet species, amphipods are the most plentiful prey during the spring and winter months. The fish also supplement their diets with [[polychaetes]], [[bivalves]], and [[gastropods]] in these periods. During the summer, the dragonets feed primarily on [[ophiuroids]] and amphipods. In this season, ophiuroids are the most dominant in number. Finally, in the fall, the two species predominantly consume polychaetes, amphipods, and [[gastropods]], with polychaetes contributing the highest amount.<ref name=Diet>{{cite journal|last=Gonzales|first=Benjamin J.|author2=Nobuhiko Taniguchi |author3=Osamu Okamura |author4=Yoshihiko Machida |title=Diet and feeding behavior of two dragonets ''Calliurichthys japonicus'' and ''Repomucenus huguenini'' in Tosa Bay, Southern Japan|journal=Fisheries Science|year=1996|volume=62|issue=6|pages=902–908|doi=10.2331/fishsci.62.902|doi-access=free}}</ref>