Author: (Richardson, 1848)
Saurida undosquamis (Richardson, 1848)
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Saurida undosquamis (Richardson, 1848) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: snout rounded in dorsal aspect. Eye diameter into head length 4-5 1/2 times, into inter-orbital width 1 1/8-1 1/2 times. Pectoral fin rather short, 1 1/3-1 2/3 times into head length; extending nearly to dorsal fin insertion. Axillary scale of pelvic fin long and pointed, length equal to or greater than snout length. Longest ray of dorsal fin slightly shorter to slightly longer than head length. Caudal peduncle depressed. Dorsal finrays 11-12; anal finrays 10-12; pelvic finrays 9; pectoral finrays 14-15. Lateral line scales 41-52. Colour: leading edge of dorsal fin and upper leading edge of caudal fin with characteristic row of dark spots. Body with 8-10 dark spots along the lateral line. Size: 20-30 cm commonly, 50 cm max.
Habitat: generally in depths less than 100 m (maximum of c. 225 m) on sand and mud bottom. Food: predatory on small fishes. Anchovy and red mullet (Mullus surmuletus) reported as food items (Fischer, 1973). Reproduction: larval stage has been figured (Okiyama, 1973). Spawning occurs in April-May off Japan (Okada, 1955). Commercial importance: eaten fresh and as fish cakes in Japan (Okada, 1955).
Distribution: an Indo-West Pacific species which has invaded the eastern Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Eastern Mediterranean, Gulf of Suez, Red Sea; South Africa to Australia in the Indian Ocean; off Japan to Great Barrier Reef in the Pacific.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). Kotthaus, 1967: 75, fig. 63.