Saurida tumbil (Bloch, 1795)
Greater lizardfish
Saurida tumbil
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Synodontidae (Lizardfishes), subfamily: Harpadontinae
Max. size:  60 cm FL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 7 years
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range - 700 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  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.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 0-0; 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.
Biology:  Found on muddy bottoms (Ref. 30573) and trawling grounds (Ref. 58652). Adults feed on fishes, crustaceans, and squids (Ref. 30573). Sold fresh.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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