Teleostei (teleosts) >
Aulopiformes (Grinners) >
Synodontidae (Lizardfishes) > Harpadontinae
Etymology: Saurida: Derived from Greek, sauros = lizard (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Bloch.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range ? - 700 m (Ref. 100719), usually 20 - 60 m (Ref. 54876). Tropical; 30°N - 35°S, 32°E - 155°E
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and east coast of Africa (except Kenya), including Madagascar to the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea (Ref. 9819), and further east to southeast Asia and Australia. Does not appear to occur in the central or eastern Pacific.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 28.6, range 19 - 35 cm
Max length : 60.0 cm FL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1287); max. reported age: 7 years (Ref. 1287)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 10 - 11. Body is cigar-shaped, rounded or slightly compressed; the head pointed and depressed; the snout broader than long. Color is generally brown above and silver below; the back with faint cross bands. The tips of the dorsal and pectorals and the lower caudal lobe blackish.
Found on muddy bottoms (Ref. 30573) and trawling grounds (Ref. 58652). Adults feed on fishes, crustaceans, and squids (Ref. 30573). Sold fresh.
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
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 18.4 - 29.1, mean 27.9 °C (based on 2178 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00525 (0.00451 - 0.00611), b=3.12 (3.08 - 3.16), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.4 ±0.3 se; based on diet studies.
Generation time: 2.7 (2.0 - 6.9) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 34
growth studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.08-0.44; tmax=7; Fec=91,389).
Prior r = 0.57, 95% CL = 0.37 - 0.85, Based on 1 full stock assessment.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (28 of 100).
Climate Vulnerability (Ref.
125649): High to very high vulnerability (70 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 28.4 [9.9, 60.3] mg/100g; Iron = 0.402 [0.142, 0.934] mg/100g; Protein = 15.3 [12.8, 17.7] %; Omega3 = 0.0709 [, ] g/100g; Selenium = 59.9 [23.1, 129.4] μg/100g; VitaminA = 84.7 [22.2, 290.6] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.71 [0.41, 1.07] mg/100g (wet weight);
