Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 100 m (Ref. 89972), usually 2 - 60 m (Ref. 90102). Tropical; 28°N - 28°S
Indo-Pacific: Mauritius to the Society Islands, north to the Hawaiian Islands, south to Sydney Harbor, New South Wales, Australia (Ref. 7300).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 37816)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10. 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 (Ref. 48635).
Benthic in sand, mud, rock and eel-grass habitats (Ref. 58302). Solitary on sand and silt bottoms (Ref 90102). Feeds on small fishes (Ref. 89972). 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.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Cressey, R.F. and R.S. Waples, 1984. Synodontidae. In W. Fischer and G. Bianchi (eds.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 51). Volume 4. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 3520)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 24.6 - 28.9, mean 27.6 °C (based on 1810 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00631 (0.00398 - 0.01000), b=3.16 (3.03 - 3.29), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.2 ±0.73 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 80.1 [27.8, 174.5] mg/100g; Iron = 0.625 [0.208, 1.307] mg/100g; Protein = 15.4 [12.9, 17.9] %; Omega3 = 0.0787 [, ] g/100g; Selenium = 31.2 [11.0, 74.1] μg/100g; VitaminA = 119 [32, 444] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.33 [0.77, 2.03] mg/100g (wet weight);
