SYNODONTIDAE


Saurida nebulosa, FRLM 30669, 9.7 cm SL

Saurida nebulosa Valenciennes, 1850
Nebulous lizardfish

D 10 - 11; A 9 - 10; P1 11 - 13 (usually 12); P2 9; LL 50 - 52. Body subcylindrical, moderately elongate. Head somewhat depressed but tail compressed; mouth large; numerous small teeth exposed on side of jaws when mouth closed; palatine teeth arranged in two rows on each side of roof of mouth. Pectoral fin short, its posterior tip not or just reaching to posterior end of pelvic fin base. Color: mottled light brown and white dorsally, whitish ventrally; several vertical dark bands or blotches on side; vertical fins with dark dotted bands; adipose fin dark colored except transparent margin. Size: maximum length about 22 cm. Distribution: widely distributed in Indo-Pacific, from Mauritius to Hawaii. Remarks: usually found in inshore waters, mangroves, and seagrass beds.