Golani’s Lizardfish

description

Description. Counts and proportional measurements of the type series are provided in Table 1. Dorsal-fin rays 11 (11 – 12); pectoral-fin rays 15 (14 – 15); pelvic-fin rays 9; anal-fin rays 11 (10 – 11). Pored lateral-line scales 53 (53 – 54); transverse scale rows above lateral-line 4 ½, transverse scale rows below lateral-line 5 ½; scale rows below lateral line with melanophores 4; pre-dorsal scales 18 (17 – 18); pre-adipose scales 16 (16 – 17); post-adipose scales 10 (10 – 11). Vertebrae 48 – 50. Holotype Paratypes HUJ 14018, 275.8 mm SL 7 specimens: 213.6 – 364 mm SL Counts Dorsal fin 11 11 – 12 Pectoral fin 15 14 – 15 Pelvic fin 9 9 Anal fin 11 10 – 11 Pored lateral-line scales 53 53 – 54 Transverse scales above lateral-line 4 ½ 4 ½ Transverse scales below lateral-line 5 ½ 5 ½ Scale rows below lateral line with melanophores 4 4 Pre-dorsal scales 18 17 – 18 Pre-adipose scales 16 16 – 17 Post-adipose scales 10 10 – 11 No. vertebrae - 48 – 50 * No. rows of palatine teeth anteriorly 3 3 No. of vomerine teeth 1 0 – 1 No. teeth rows across tongue 4 4 – 6 Proportional measurements % of SL % of SL Predorsal length 42.5 38.4 – 43.3 Preadipose length 80.9 73.3 – 81.0 Preanal length 72.8

Saurida golanii, a new deep water lizardfish (Pisces: Synodontidae) from the Gulf of Aqaba, northern Red Sea

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Saurida with the following combination of characters: lateral-line scales 53 – 56; transverse scale rows 4 ½ / 5 ½; long pectoral fins (extending beyond a line from origin of pelvic fins to origin of dorsal fin); caudal peduncle compressed (depth greater than width); and pelvic fins unpigmented.

Saurida golanii, a new deep water lizardfish (Pisces: Synodontidae) from the Gulf of Aqaba, northern Red Sea

discussion

Remarks. Saurida golanii sp. nov. has the deepest known distribution of any species of Saurida in the Indo- West Pacific. Its occurrence in depths of 200 – 500 m is similar to other more typically shallow water species in the Gulf of Aqaba that have also been captured in deep water (Baranes and Golani 1993). This phenomenon is probably a consequence of the unusual deep convective mixing of warmer surface waters to depths of 600 m or more, that occurs in the Gulf of Aqaba (Wolf-Vecht et al. 1992), resulting in an almost constant temperature throughout the water column (Reiss & Hottinger, 1984) that extends the distribution of many species of shallow water origin into much deeper water (Baranes & Golani 1993).

Saurida golanii, a new deep water lizardfish (Pisces: Synodontidae) from the Gulf of Aqaba, northern Red Sea

distribution

Distribution. Saurida golanii sp. nov. is known only from the northern Red Sea (Gulf of Aqaba), where it is common in depths between 200 and 500 m (Baranes and Golani 1993).

Saurida golanii, a new deep water lizardfish (Pisces: Synodontidae) from the Gulf of Aqaba, northern Red Sea