Author: (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synodus synodus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Synodus synodus (Linnaeus, 1758) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: head long, contained 3 1/2-4 times in SL; upper surface moderately rugose. Inter-orbital space narrow, 7 1/2-
8 1/2 times in head length. Eye large, diameter 4 1/2-6 times in head length. Snout length equal to or greater than eye diameter. 4 1/2-6 1/2 scales between lateral line and middle of dorsal fin base. Anal fin base 1 1/3-1 3/5 times longer than dorsal fin base. Pectoral fin extending to or slightly beyond level of dorsal fin insertion. Dorsal finrays 12-14; anal finrays 8-10; pelvic finrays 8; pectoral finrays 11-13, lateral line scales 54-59. Colour: four dark saddles dorsally between dorsal origin and caudal fin base; a black spot on the upper surface of the tip of the snout. Size: to c. 30 cm.
Habitat: primarily found in shallow inshore waters; maximum depth 50 m; demersal. Food: no data. Reproduction: post-larval stage has been figured (Anderson et al., 1966; Gibbs, 1959; Norman, 1935). Commercial importance: reportedly good to eat, but little utilized (Melliss, 1875).
Distribution: in the western Atlantic from the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Antilles to Uruguay; in the eastern Atlantic, from off the Canaries and Madeira.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. Mead, 1966, fig. 11.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.