SYNODUS JACULUM - (RUSSELL & CRESSEY, 1979)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Aulopiformes (Order) > Synodontidae (Family) > Synodontinae (Subfamily) > Synodus (Genus)
Anoli phare, Black-tailed lizardfish, Blackblotch lizardfish, Blacktail lizardfish, Javelinfish, Lighthouse lizardfish, Lizardfish, Tail-blotch lizardfish, Tailspot lizardfish, Swartstert-akkedisvis, Peixe-banana faroleiro, Lagarto faro, Oguro-eso, 斑尾狗母鱼,
Description
Dorsal fin rays (total): 11-13 (usually: 12); Anal fin rays: 8-9 (usually: 8); Pectoral fin rays: 12-13 (usually: 13); Pelvic fin rays: 8; Lateral line scale: 59-62 (usually: 60) pored scales. Body tubular, head somewhat depressed, caudal region a little compressed. Large cycloid scales on body, extending onto cheeks and operculum; 4-7 rows of cheek scales, post-oral portion of cheeks naked. Snout pointed, about as long as broad; Anterior nostrils on each side bearing a short, triangular flap on its posterior margin, not extending beyond margin of nares when depressed anteriorly. Eye large, adipose eyelid narrow. Interorbital space concave, occipital region bony, smooth above and behind eyes with 3 bony ridges radiating from behind each eye. A single row of forwardly directed teeth in each jaw 1 or 2 rows of smaller teeth set below level of lips. Palatine teeth in an elongate V-shaped pad, teeth backwardly pointing, those in front largest and in a discrete group. Lingual teeth well developed, those on free end of tongue largest and slightly recurved, in 4-5 rows, inner 1 or 2 rows of teeth smaller. Teeth in jaws, palatines and tongue caniniform, larger teeth with arrow-shaped tips, particularly in bigger specimens. Pectoral fins short, just reaching to a line from base of pelvic fins to origin of dorsal fin. Outer pelvic ray unbranched and short, the fifth branched ray (sixth ray) longest, reaching to a line drawn vertically from posterior base of dorsal fin. Posterior bony processes of pelvic girdle broad. Max. length: 20.0 cm TL, common length: 10.0 cm TL. Depth range: 2 - 100 m.
Color
Body mottled with red. Nine reddish undulated bars extending from middorsal line almost to midventral line, each bar broader on the dorsum, the second and every alternate bar lighter and narrower; Bars edged with pale blue on dorsum, interspaces pink on dorsum, whitish on upper part of sides; Lower part of sides with a reddish bar in interspaces and two pairs of white spots, these giving the appearance of two broken horizontal white lines along the lower part of the body. Ventral surface white. Base of caudal fin and peduncle black, axillary scales white. Head pinkish, cheeks and preopercle whitish, opercle mottled with red. Lips barred with white, two blackish streaks extending from anterior nostrils to tip of snout. Eyes reddish, pupils dark, edged with white. Dorsal fin with 3-4 faint transverse dark bands, other fins transparent. Peritoneal color pale whitish with 11-13 black spots along each side of body wall.
Etymology
Synodus: from Greek prefix, syn- = identical, with, together, concomitant + from Greek, odous = teeth. For the single row of widely spaced teeth on upper jaw, more or less visible when the mouth is closed.
jaculum: from the Latin jaculum = javelin, in reference to the peculiar behavior of this species of launching itself off the bottom and swimming in midwater for prolonged periods.
Original description: Synodus jaculum Russell & Cressey, 1979.
Type locality: Granite Bluff, Lizard Island (14°40'S, 145°27'E), Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia, depth 16 meter, B. C. Russell, 20 November 1975.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: South Africa, East Africa, Socotra, Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius (Mascarenes) east to Marquesas and Line islands, north to Izu Islands (Japan) and Ogasawara Islands (Japan), south to northern Australia, Chesterfield Islands, New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands.
Biology
Inhabits coral reefs. Commonly found on sand or rubble near coral heads. Solitary, in pairs or in small groups.
Similar species
Synodus dermatogenys (Fowler, 1912) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here) - No black streaks at upper edge of operculum and usually a bluish grey stripe along upper side.
Anoli phare, Black-tailed lizardfish, Blackblotch lizardfish, Blacktail lizardfish, Javelinfish, Lighthouse lizardfish, Lizardfish, Tail-blotch lizardfish, Tailspot lizardfish, Swartstert-akkedisvis, Peixe-banana faroleiro, Lagarto faro, Oguro-eso, 斑尾狗母鱼,
Description
Dorsal fin rays (total): 11-13 (usually: 12); Anal fin rays: 8-9 (usually: 8); Pectoral fin rays: 12-13 (usually: 13); Pelvic fin rays: 8; Lateral line scale: 59-62 (usually: 60) pored scales. Body tubular, head somewhat depressed, caudal region a little compressed. Large cycloid scales on body, extending onto cheeks and operculum; 4-7 rows of cheek scales, post-oral portion of cheeks naked. Snout pointed, about as long as broad; Anterior nostrils on each side bearing a short, triangular flap on its posterior margin, not extending beyond margin of nares when depressed anteriorly. Eye large, adipose eyelid narrow. Interorbital space concave, occipital region bony, smooth above and behind eyes with 3 bony ridges radiating from behind each eye. A single row of forwardly directed teeth in each jaw 1 or 2 rows of smaller teeth set below level of lips. Palatine teeth in an elongate V-shaped pad, teeth backwardly pointing, those in front largest and in a discrete group. Lingual teeth well developed, those on free end of tongue largest and slightly recurved, in 4-5 rows, inner 1 or 2 rows of teeth smaller. Teeth in jaws, palatines and tongue caniniform, larger teeth with arrow-shaped tips, particularly in bigger specimens. Pectoral fins short, just reaching to a line from base of pelvic fins to origin of dorsal fin. Outer pelvic ray unbranched and short, the fifth branched ray (sixth ray) longest, reaching to a line drawn vertically from posterior base of dorsal fin. Posterior bony processes of pelvic girdle broad. Max. length: 20.0 cm TL, common length: 10.0 cm TL. Depth range: 2 - 100 m.
Color
Body mottled with red. Nine reddish undulated bars extending from middorsal line almost to midventral line, each bar broader on the dorsum, the second and every alternate bar lighter and narrower; Bars edged with pale blue on dorsum, interspaces pink on dorsum, whitish on upper part of sides; Lower part of sides with a reddish bar in interspaces and two pairs of white spots, these giving the appearance of two broken horizontal white lines along the lower part of the body. Ventral surface white. Base of caudal fin and peduncle black, axillary scales white. Head pinkish, cheeks and preopercle whitish, opercle mottled with red. Lips barred with white, two blackish streaks extending from anterior nostrils to tip of snout. Eyes reddish, pupils dark, edged with white. Dorsal fin with 3-4 faint transverse dark bands, other fins transparent. Peritoneal color pale whitish with 11-13 black spots along each side of body wall.
Etymology
Synodus: from Greek prefix, syn- = identical, with, together, concomitant + from Greek, odous = teeth. For the single row of widely spaced teeth on upper jaw, more or less visible when the mouth is closed.
jaculum: from the Latin jaculum = javelin, in reference to the peculiar behavior of this species of launching itself off the bottom and swimming in midwater for prolonged periods.
Original description: Synodus jaculum Russell & Cressey, 1979.
Type locality: Granite Bluff, Lizard Island (14°40'S, 145°27'E), Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia, depth 16 meter, B. C. Russell, 20 November 1975.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: South Africa, East Africa, Socotra, Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius (Mascarenes) east to Marquesas and Line islands, north to Izu Islands (Japan) and Ogasawara Islands (Japan), south to northern Australia, Chesterfield Islands, New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands.
Biology
Inhabits coral reefs. Commonly found on sand or rubble near coral heads. Solitary, in pairs or in small groups.
Similar species
Synodus dermatogenys (Fowler, 1912) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here) - No black streaks at upper edge of operculum and usually a bluish grey stripe along upper side.