Synodus usitatus
Synodus usitatus Cressey, 1981
Ordinary lizardfish
Synodus usitatus
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Synodontidae (Lizardfishes), subfamily: Synodontinae
Max. size:  15.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 88 - 232 m
Distribution:  Eastern Central Pacific: Hawaii.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-13; Anal soft rays: 8-10; Vertebrae: 57-58. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D 10-13; A 8-10; lateral-line scales 56-60; scale rows above lateral line 3.5; vertebrae 57-58; anterior gill-rakers 25-36; pseudobranchial filaments 16-27; peritoneal spots 13-16; palatine teeth uniform in length and size; posterior part of preopercle scaled; anterior nostril flap (ANF) moderately long, slender, triangular or leaf-shaped, does not or just reaching the rear margin of posterior nostril when laid back; ANF length/ inter-nostril distance (IND) 0.71-1.30 (mean 1.03); snout is moderately rounded in lateral view; pelvic fin moderately long, its length 22.8-27.2% in SL; posterior process of pelvic girdle wide. Colouration: when fresh, pale orange dorsally, white ventrally, with eight indistinct doughnut-shaped dark blotches along body axis, some continuous with saddle-shaped blotches on dorsum; pelvic-fin rays are white and fin membranes transparent, no additional markings; caudal fin uniform whitish, with white bands on upper lobe; color in alcohol pale, with scattered irregular dark pigmentation above the lateral line (Ref. 137548).
Biology:  Benthic at ca. 100 m (Ref. 58302).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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