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Type: Article
Published: 2015-05-12
Page range: 559–568
Abstract views: 71
PDF downloaded: 1

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

Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, PO Box 4646 Darwin, NT 0801, Australia.
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour and National Natural History Collections, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
School of Marine Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Michmoret 40297, Israel.
Pisces Synodontidae Saurida new species Red Sea Mediterranean Sea Lessepsian immigration

Abstract

Saurida lessepsianus n. sp., a lizardfish (Aulopiformes: Synodontidae) from the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea, previously misidentified as S. undosquamis (Richardson) and more recently as S. macrolepis Tanaka, is described as a new species. It is characterised by 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 4½, below lateral line 5½; pectoral fins moderately long (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) small black spots; stomach pale grey to blackish anteriorly; intestine whitish. The species is common in the Red Sea and as a result of Lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal, it is now widely distributed in the eastern Mediterranean. The taxonomic status of two other Red Sea nominal species, Saurus badimottah Rüppell [= Saurida tumbil (Bloch)] and Saurida sinaitica Dollfus in Gruvel (a nomen nudum), is clarified. A key is provided for the species of Saurida in the Red Sea.