SAURIDA NEBULOSA - (VALENCIENNES, 1850)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Aulopiformes (Order) > Synodontidae (Family) > Harpadontinae (Subfamily) > Saurida (Genus)
Anoli nuageux, Poisson-lézard nébuleux, Blotched grinner, Blotched saury, Clouded lizardfish, Clouded saury, Nebulous lizardfish, Lagarto nubífero, 雲紋蛇鯔, 狗母梭,
Anoli nuageux, Poisson-lézard nébuleux, Blotched grinner, Blotched saury, Clouded lizardfish, Clouded saury, Nebulous lizardfish, Lagarto nubífero, 雲紋蛇鯔, 狗母梭,
Synonyme
Synodus sharpi (Fowler, 1900)
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Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Body subcylindrical, moderately elongate. Head somewhat depressed but tail compressed; Mouth large; Numerous small teeth exposed on side of jaws when mouth closed; Palatine teeth arranged in two patches on each side of roof of mouth. Pectoral fin short, its posterior tip not or just reaching to posterior end of pelvic-fin base. The origin of the dorsal fin in this species is behind the mid-point of the distance between the snout and the adipose fin. Max. length: 16.5 cm SL. Depth range: 0 - 100 m, usually: 2 - 60 m.
Color
Mottled light brown and white dorsally, whitish ventrally; There are about nine blackish bands or blotches on side; Vertical fins with dark dotted bands; Adipose fin dark colored except transparent margin. The most distinctive character, however, is the odd pattern of irregular white marks on the side.
Etymology
Saurida: derived from Greek, sauros = lizard.
nebulosa: from Latin, nebulosa = misty, foggy, clouded.
Original description: Saurida nebulosa Valenciennes, 1850 - Type locality: Mauritius, Mascarenes, southwestern Indian Ocean.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Aldabra, Mascarenes and Maldives east to Hawaiian Islands and Society Islands, north to Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands (Japan), south to Australia, New Caledonia and Tonga.
Biology
Benthic in sand, mud, rock and eel-grass habitats and is not seen on reefs. Solitary on sand and silt bottoms. Feeds on small fishes. Found primarily inshore, e.g. in mangroves and seagrass beds, also near streams and river mouths. Piscivorous. Caught with artisanal gear. Sold fresh in markets.
Similar species
Saurida gracilis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) - Reported from New Caledonia. Link to the species (here).
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Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Body subcylindrical, moderately elongate. Head somewhat depressed but tail compressed; Mouth large; Numerous small teeth exposed on side of jaws when mouth closed; Palatine teeth arranged in two patches on each side of roof of mouth. Pectoral fin short, its posterior tip not or just reaching to posterior end of pelvic-fin base. The origin of the dorsal fin in this species is behind the mid-point of the distance between the snout and the adipose fin. Max. length: 16.5 cm SL. Depth range: 0 - 100 m, usually: 2 - 60 m.
Color
Mottled light brown and white dorsally, whitish ventrally; There are about nine blackish bands or blotches on side; Vertical fins with dark dotted bands; Adipose fin dark colored except transparent margin. The most distinctive character, however, is the odd pattern of irregular white marks on the side.
Etymology
Saurida: derived from Greek, sauros = lizard.
nebulosa: from Latin, nebulosa = misty, foggy, clouded.
Original description: Saurida nebulosa Valenciennes, 1850 - Type locality: Mauritius, Mascarenes, southwestern Indian Ocean.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Aldabra, Mascarenes and Maldives east to Hawaiian Islands and Society Islands, north to Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands (Japan), south to Australia, New Caledonia and Tonga.
Biology
Benthic in sand, mud, rock and eel-grass habitats and is not seen on reefs. Solitary on sand and silt bottoms. Feeds on small fishes. Found primarily inshore, e.g. in mangroves and seagrass beds, also near streams and river mouths. Piscivorous. Caught with artisanal gear. Sold fresh in markets.
Similar species
Saurida gracilis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) - Reported from New Caledonia. Link to the species (here).
Saurida differs from all other lizardfishes by possessing several rows of villiform teeth extending outward onto the lips beyond the normal row of large canine, and 9 instead of 8 pelvic rays. The species is recognized by the large dark blotches below the dorsal fins.
Fishes in the genus Synodus have eight pelvic fin rays and teeth that are not visible when the mouth is closed.
Fishes in the genus Synodus have eight pelvic fin rays and teeth that are not visible when the mouth is closed.