79: SYNODONTIDAE (LIZARD FISHES)
throughout Indo-West Pacific, usually in less than 10 m;
reaching south to Sodwana Bay (first record for southern
Africa).
79.4 Synodus binotatus: 11 .5 em.
79.5 Synodus englemani
Schultz, 1953
PLATE 11
Redband lizardfish
Rooistreep-akkedisvis
Synodus englemani Schultz, 1953: 41, Fig. 9 (Marshall Ids.) ; Winterbottom, 1978: 44; Cressey, 1981: 14*.
D 11-13; A 8-10; P 13; vertebrae 59-62; LL 60-63 ; scales above LL 5\'2,
below LL 7. P reaches line from D origin to V origin . Anterior nostril flap
not extending much beyond nostril margin when depressed anteriorly.
Live fish with a scarlet band along scale row below LL
intersecting a series of vertical red bars and blotches; C with
indistinct reddish brown bars; D and V rays with reddish
brown spots. Pigment pattern of preserved specimens as in
Sy. variegatus, except most fish with a wide dark stripe
along LL. Attains 23 cm. Often collected with Sy. variegatus;
commoner at shallower depths of their combined depth
ranges. Common throughout Indo-West Pacific to 60 m;
extending south to Sodwana Bay.
79.5 Synodus englemani: 13.5 em.
79.6 Synodus hoshinonis
Tanaka, 1917
Blackpatch lizardfish
Swartvlek-akkedisvis
Synodus hoshinonis Tanaka, 1917: 38 (Japan); Cressey, 1981: 19* .
D 12-14; A 8-10; P 11-12; vertebrae 54-57; LL 55-57; scales above LL
3\'2, below LL 5. Scales on cheek behind mouth. Anterior nostril flap
rounded, barely reaching nostril margin when depressed anteriorly.
Dorsum with alternating light and dark saddle-like
blotches extending laterally to form diamond-shaped
patches at level of LL; conspicuous black blotch on upper
272
edge of operCUlum. Attains 25 cm. Northern Mozambique
(19°09'S), Indian Ocean and Japan; usually at depths over
50 m. A closely related species (Sy. tectus Cressey, 1981)
interrupts the distribution in the central West Pacific.
79.6 Synodus hoshinonis: 10.5 em.
Indian lizardfish
79.7 Synodus indicus
(Day, 1873)
PLATE 11
Indiese akkedisvis
Saurus indicus Day, 1873: 526 (India) . Synodus indicus: Smith , SFSA
No. 172*; Cressey, 1981 : 21*.
D 11-13; A 9-11; P 13; vertebrae 52-59; LL 52-60; scales above LL 3\'2,
below LL 5. P not reaching line from D origin to V origin. Anterior nostril
flap long and triangular (somewhat spatulate in specimens over 15 cm).
Anterior palatine teeth not longer than posterior teeth in specimens under
15 cm, slightly longer in larger specimens.
Nine dark blotches along LL in preserved specimens
(more conspicuous in large specimens); 2 small black
streaks at upper edge of operculum. Attains 33 cm.
Throughout Indian Ocean in 20 - 100 m; common in Natal,
occasional specimens reach Mossel Bay.
79.7 Synodus indieus: 16.5 em.
79.8 Synodus jaculum
Russell & Cressey, 1979 .
Blacktaillizardfish
Swartstert-akkedisvis
Synodus jaculum Russell & Cressey, 1979: 169, Fig. 2 (Great Barrier
Reef); Cressey 1981: 23'.
D 11-13; A 8-10; P 12-13; vertebrae 59-62; LL 59-62; scales above LL
5\'2 - 6\'2, below LL 9. P reaches line from D origin to V origin. Post-oral
portion of cheeks naked. Anterior nostril flap short and triangular as in
Sy. englemani.
throughout Indo-West Pacific, usually in less than 10 m;
reaching south to Sodwana Bay (first record for southern
Africa).
79.4 Synodus binotatus: 11 .5 em.
79.5 Synodus englemani
Schultz, 1953
PLATE 11
Redband lizardfish
Rooistreep-akkedisvis
Synodus englemani Schultz, 1953: 41, Fig. 9 (Marshall Ids.) ; Winterbottom, 1978: 44; Cressey, 1981: 14*.
D 11-13; A 8-10; P 13; vertebrae 59-62; LL 60-63 ; scales above LL 5\'2,
below LL 7. P reaches line from D origin to V origin . Anterior nostril flap
not extending much beyond nostril margin when depressed anteriorly.
Live fish with a scarlet band along scale row below LL
intersecting a series of vertical red bars and blotches; C with
indistinct reddish brown bars; D and V rays with reddish
brown spots. Pigment pattern of preserved specimens as in
Sy. variegatus, except most fish with a wide dark stripe
along LL. Attains 23 cm. Often collected with Sy. variegatus;
commoner at shallower depths of their combined depth
ranges. Common throughout Indo-West Pacific to 60 m;
extending south to Sodwana Bay.
79.5 Synodus englemani: 13.5 em.
79.6 Synodus hoshinonis
Tanaka, 1917
Blackpatch lizardfish
Swartvlek-akkedisvis
Synodus hoshinonis Tanaka, 1917: 38 (Japan); Cressey, 1981: 19* .
D 12-14; A 8-10; P 11-12; vertebrae 54-57; LL 55-57; scales above LL
3\'2, below LL 5. Scales on cheek behind mouth. Anterior nostril flap
rounded, barely reaching nostril margin when depressed anteriorly.
Dorsum with alternating light and dark saddle-like
blotches extending laterally to form diamond-shaped
patches at level of LL; conspicuous black blotch on upper
272
edge of operCUlum. Attains 25 cm. Northern Mozambique
(19°09'S), Indian Ocean and Japan; usually at depths over
50 m. A closely related species (Sy. tectus Cressey, 1981)
interrupts the distribution in the central West Pacific.
79.6 Synodus hoshinonis: 10.5 em.
Indian lizardfish
79.7 Synodus indicus
(Day, 1873)
PLATE 11
Indiese akkedisvis
Saurus indicus Day, 1873: 526 (India) . Synodus indicus: Smith , SFSA
No. 172*; Cressey, 1981 : 21*.
D 11-13; A 9-11; P 13; vertebrae 52-59; LL 52-60; scales above LL 3\'2,
below LL 5. P not reaching line from D origin to V origin. Anterior nostril
flap long and triangular (somewhat spatulate in specimens over 15 cm).
Anterior palatine teeth not longer than posterior teeth in specimens under
15 cm, slightly longer in larger specimens.
Nine dark blotches along LL in preserved specimens
(more conspicuous in large specimens); 2 small black
streaks at upper edge of operculum. Attains 33 cm.
Throughout Indian Ocean in 20 - 100 m; common in Natal,
occasional specimens reach Mossel Bay.
79.7 Synodus indieus: 16.5 em.
79.8 Synodus jaculum
Russell & Cressey, 1979 .
Blacktaillizardfish
Swartstert-akkedisvis
Synodus jaculum Russell & Cressey, 1979: 169, Fig. 2 (Great Barrier
Reef); Cressey 1981: 23'.
D 11-13; A 8-10; P 12-13; vertebrae 59-62; LL 59-62; scales above LL
5\'2 - 6\'2, below LL 9. P reaches line from D origin to V origin. Post-oral
portion of cheeks naked. Anterior nostril flap short and triangular as in
Sy. englemani.