Dragonets are scaleless. The males may be brightly coloured once sexually mature, in contrast to the usually drab females. Most species are bottom dwellers, frequently burying themselves in sand in shallow areas. All dragonet species have a similar feeding mechanism. They exist partially buried in the seabed with only their eyes visible. This is a type of defense mechanism. They are also foul-smelling and foul-tasting which makes them inedible to predators.