Sea Dragon (Large Sea Dragon, Thailand, Taiwan) (Syngnathus hardwickii, 20~40cm, central diameter 2~2.5cm, yellowish-white, grey-brown, tubular long snout at the front of the head, 5 longitudinal ridges on the trunk, light and flexible, not easily broken, fishy odor)
Large Sea Dragon (Pineapple pattern)
Small Sea Dragon (Syngnathus biaculeatus, 20cm, grey-brown, trunk with 4 longitudinal ridges; Sharp Sea Dragon: slender and twisted, about 15~20cm in total length, 0.5cm in diameter)
Large and Small Sea Dragon
【Naming】
【Source】
Shi Yi
【Common Usage Degree】
E
【Origin】
The dried body of Syngnathus hardwickii Gray, Syngnathus biaculeatus Bloch, or Syngnathus acus L. (family Syngnathidae), after removing the skin and internal organs.
【Characteristics】
(1) The dried whole body of Syngnathus hardwickii is elongated and slightly flattened, slightly thicker in the middle, and gradually tapers and curves towards the tail. Total length is 20~40cm, and the central diameter is 2~2.5cm. The surface is yellowish-white or grey-brown. The front of the head has a tubular long snout, and there is a pair of sunken eyes at the base of the snout. The trunk has 5 longitudinal ridges, the front section of the tail has 6 longitudinal ridges, and the rear section has 4 longitudinal ridges. The whole body has circular protruding patterned markings. It is light, bony, and hard. It has a slightly fishy odor and a slightly salty taste.
(2) The dried whole body of Syngnathus biaculeatus (also known as Sea Drill) is elongated and flat, slightly thicker in the middle, and the tail is thin and slightly curved. The total length is about 20cm, and the central diameter is about 2cm. The surface is grey-brown, the snout is a long tube, and the eyes are large and round. The trunk has 4 longitudinal ridges, the front section of the tail has 6 longitudinal ridges, and the rear section has 4 longitudinal ridges. The whole body has patterned markings. It is light, bony, and hard. The odor is the same as the previous species.
(3) The dried whole body of Syngnathus acus (also known as Small Sea Dragon) is slender and twisted. Total length is about 15~20cm, and the diameter is 0.4~0.5cm. The tail is about twice as long as the trunk. The surface is greyish-brown on the back and greyish-yellow on the abdomen. The trunk has 7 longitudinal ridges, and the tail has 4 longitudinal ridges. The bony rings are not very obvious. It is light and brittle, and easily broken. It has a fishy odor and a faint, slightly salty taste.
Sea Dragon Comparison of Medicinal Material Characteristics
Name
Items
Varieties included in the Pharmacopoeia
Syngnathus hardwickii
(Commonly known as Sea Dragon)
Syngnathus biaculeatus
(Commonly known as Sea Drill)
Syngnathus acus
(Commonly known as Small Sea Dragon/Sea Eel)
Origin
Guangdong, Fujian, Taiwan
South China Sea
East China Sea
South China Sea
Source
The dried body of Syngnathus hardwickii (Gray) of the Syngnathidae family
The dried body of Syngnathus biaculeatus (Bloch) of the Syngnathidae family
The dried body of Syngnathus acus Li
aeus of the Syngnathidae family
Head
The snout is slightly larger than 1/2 the length of the head, and the head and body axis form a large obtuse angle or are not obvious.
The snout is slightly larger than 1/2 the length of the head, and the head and body axis are on the same line. Each orbit has a small backward spine.
The snout is slightly larger than 1/2 the length of the head or nearly equal, and the head and body axis are on the same line. The linear ridge on the gill cover is located at the base 1/3.
Body shape
Elongated, the whole body has a pineapple pattern, the body is laterally flattened, high and wide, and the trunk is pentagonal; yellowish-white or greyish-brown, the whole body is covered with patterned bony rings and fine horizontal lines, and each bony ring has protruding granular spines, with a row of greyish-black spotted color bands on both sides of the dorsal ridge; 30-50cm long
Rhomboid, pointed at both ends, the body is shorter, the body is flat, the width is greater than the height, and the trunk cross-section is trapezoidal (quadrangular), greyish-white, greyish-yellow or greyish-brown; about 20cm long
Small, twisted, the body is long and slender, flattened, the trunk is heptagonal, greyish-brown or yellowish-brown, 8-13cm long
Body ridges
The middle lateral ridge is continuous with the upper tail ridge, the trunk is heptagonal, and the middle abdomen is large
The lower lateral ridge or the middle lateral ridge is continuous with the upper tail ridge, the trunk is quadrangular trapezoidal, thick and flat
The middle lateral ridge is continuous with the upper tail ridge, and the trunk is indistinctly heptagonal
Tail
The front section of the tail is hexagonal, and the rear section is quadrangular
The front section of the tail is hexagonal, and the rear section is quadrangular
The tail is quadrangular and about 1/2 the length of the trunk
Anus
Below the dorsal fin
Below the dorsal fin
Below the dorsal fin
Pectoral fin
23
20-22
12-13
Dorsal fin
41-42, completely located on the tail
40-41, located from the end ring of the trunk to the 9th tail ring
35-43, located from the end ring of the trunk to the 9th tail ring
Anal fin
4
5-6
3-4
Caudal fin
None
None
9-10
Bony rings
(Trunk + Tail)
25-26 + 56-57
16-17 + 51-53
19 + 36-41
【Processing】
1. Sea Dragon 2. Stir-fried Sea Dragon 3. Wine-prepared Sea Dragon:
【Identification】
The best are those that are large, white, and complete.
【Identification Terminology】
1. Pineapple pattern: refers to the special pattern on the surface of the Sea Dragon, similar to the nail-shaped pattern on the surface of a pineapple.
【Chapter】
Vertebrates