Largescale Saury, Saurida undosquamis (Richardson, 1848)
Scientific name: Saurida undosquamis
Alternative name/s:
Brushtooth Lizardfish, Checkered Lizardfish, Large Scale Grinner, Large-scaled Grinner.
Brushtooth Lizardfish, Checkered Lizardfish, Large Scale Grinner, Large-scaled Grinner.
Click to enlarge image
A 50 cm - 60 cm long Largescale Saury in a Halophila seagrass bed at a depth of 9 m, Cabbage Tree Island, Port Stephens, New South Wales.
Image: Dave Harasti
© Dave Harasti
© Dave Harasti
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Saurida
- Species
- undosquamis
- Family
- Synodontidae
- Order
- Aulopiformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The Largescale Saury grows to around 60 cm in length.
Introduction
The Largescale Saury is one of the largest members of its family, and has a impressive array of teeth that are visible when the mouth is closed.
Identification
The species has a brown back, speckled with white spots and a cream coloured belly. It is best distinguished from other Saurida species by the size of its scales.
Distribution
The species is found in the Western Pacific region, and in Australia occurs in tropical waters from north-western Western Australia, around the tropical north and south on the east coast to the central coast of New South Wales.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
