- Arrowtooth lizardfish
Taxobox
name = Arrowtooth lizardfish
image_caption =
regnum =Animalia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Actinopterygii
ordo =Aulopiformes
familia =Synodontidae
genus = "Synodus "
species = "S. doaki"
binomial = "Synodus doaki"
binomial_authority = Russell & Cressey, 1979The arrowtooth lizardfish, "Synodus doaki", is a
lizardfish of the family "Synodontidae ", found in the indo-Pacific oceans, at depths of between 9 and 200 m. Its length is between 15 and 28 cm.The arrowtooth lizardfish is rounded in cross-section with a broad moderately flattened head containing a large wide mouth. The upper jaw protrudes over the lower. Both jaws contain sharp teeth. The first
dorsal fin is large and flag-like but the second isadipose .When resting on the bottom the thick rayed
pelvic fin s are used as props, raising the head and the front part of the body off the bottom. Prey that come near are snapped up in a lightning lunge.Arrowtooth lizardfish are pale-coloured with a series of eight undulating vertical bright red bars on the sides, red markings on the head and red bands on the fins. In sandy areas they tend to bury themselves with only the mouth, head, and part of the back showing.
References
*
* Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, "Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand", (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand1982 ) ISBN 0-00-216987-8
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