Synodus variegatus
| Synodus variegatus | ||||||||||||
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Synodus variegatus |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Synodus variegatus | ||||||||||||
| Lacépède , 1803 |
Synodus variegatus is a species of fish in the genus Synodus in the lizardfish family(Synodontidae).
Outward appearance
The body is elongated and flattened on the abdomen. The body shape is reminiscent of a goby . The head of the animals is broad. The eyes are high up on the head and are almost on the back. The caudal fin is small and ragged. The fish, up to 25 cm in size, is covered with brown and reddish spots in various colors.
distribution
This small predatory fish is found in the Red Sea , the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean as far as Micronesia .
habitat
This lizardfish lives on hard bottoms in lagoons and on the sandy plateau of coral reefs in water depths between 3 and 50 m .
nutrition
The animals lie individually or in pairs on the ground and lurk there for prey. They also occasionally dig themselves into the sand. They catch small fish, mainly from shoals swimming by, by suddenly jumping up on their powerful pelvic fins and grabbing the prey.
Behavior towards people
The animals largely ignore people. If they are harassed they withdraw. The fish is completely harmless.
literature
- Alberto Siliotti et al. A .: The fish of the Red Sea, Memofish-Book , Geodia Verlag, Verona 2002, ISBN 88-87177-43-0
Web links
- Synodus variegatus on Fishbase.org (English)