Lizardfish

distribution

Distribution. Red Sea endemic; Mediterranean Sea (Red Sea immigrant). Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 28 June 2018). Capture and threats: Unknown. Occurrence: Very common. Non-indigenous species, no conservation action needed.

The marine ichthyofauna of Lebanon: an annotated checklist, history, biogeography, and conservation status

biology_ecology

Biology. Saurida lessepsianus n. sp. is found mainly on sandy or muddy substrates to about 100 m, but is more common inshore close to islands or coasts in depths of 20 – 30 m (S. Bogorodsky pers. com.). This species (reported as S. undosquamis) is important in the trawl fishery of the Gulf of Suez (El-Halfawy et al. 2007) and the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, where it is in a state of high overfishing and severe overexploitation (Mahmoud et al. 2014). In the Mediterranean, it was rather uncommon until 1955, when it started to appear in large quantities in bottom trawl catches (Ben-Yami & Glaser 1974; Bilecenoğlu 2010). Catches have since remained high, with some fluctuations (Golani 1993). It is an economically important fish in the Mersin and Iskenderun Gulfs, Turkey (Torcu & Mater 2000; Bilecenoğlu 2010) and is among the most common species caught in the trawl fishery, comprising almost one-third of the commercial trawl catch in the north-eastern Levant (Cinar et al. 2005). The spawning season is prolonged and occurs nearly all the year round, with two peaks in December and May in the Gulf of Suez (El-Halfawy et al. 2007). In the Mediterranean, the spawning season off the coast o

Saurida lessepsianus a new species of lizardfish (Pisces: Synodontidae) from the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea, with a key to Saurida species in the Red Sea

description

Description. Counts and proportional measurements of the type series are provided in Table 1. Dorsal-fin rays 12 (11 – 12); pectoral-fin rays 14 (13 – 15); pelvic-fin rays 9; anal-fin rays 11 (10 – 12). Pored lateral-line scales 50 (47 – 51); transverse scale rows above lateral line 4 ½, below lateral line 5 ½; scale rows below lateral line with melanophores 2 (1 – 3); pre-dorsal scales 19 (14 – 19); pre-adipose scales 14 (13 – 16); post-adipose scales 10 (8 – 10). Vertebrae 47 (44 – 47). Body elongate and cylindrical, somewhat depressed on head and slightly compressed on caudal peduncle, the latter with slightly raised lateral-line scales, forming a slight ridge; scales large, cycloid, not very deciduous; scales present on cheek and opercle. Snout somewhat elliptical when viewed from above. Nostrils located about midway between snout tip and anterior margin of orbit; anterior nostrils a little larger than posterior, anterior one with a broad dermal flap on posterior rim. A prominent low bony ridge extending from just behind nostrils to above middle of orbit. Eye circular, directed laterally; covered with fleshy adipose eyelid anteriorly and posteriorly. Interorbital region broad,

Saurida lessepsianus a new species of lizardfish (Pisces: Synodontidae) from the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea, with a key to Saurida species in the Red Sea

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Saurida with the following combination of characters: dorsal fin with 11 – 12 rays; pectoral fins with 13 – 15 rays; lateral-line scales 47 – 51; transverse scale rows above lateral line 4 ½, below lateral line 5 ½; pectoral fins moderately long (tip of fin extending to between just before or just beyond a line from origin of pelvic fins to origin of dorsal fin); 2 rows of teeth on outer palatines; 0 – 2 teeth on vomer; tongue with 3 – 6 rows of teeth posteriorly; caudal peduncle slightly compressed (depth a little more than width); upper margin of caudal fin with row of 3 – 8 (usually 6 or 7) distinct blackish spots; stomach pale grey to blackish anteriorly; intestine whitish.

Saurida lessepsianus a new species of lizardfish (Pisces: Synodontidae) from the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea, with a key to Saurida species in the Red Sea