Synodus oculeus Cressey 1981

Dorsal half body pale brown, silver-gray ventrally. Irregularly shaped red blotches on ventral half of body. All fins pale, adipose fin grayish (Ref. 37501).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 13; Analsoft rays: 10

Found on the continental shelf (Ref. 75154).

Synodus oculeus

Synodus species.—Cressey and Cressey, 1979:11.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Holotype: USNM 217612, SL 88.7 mm, Macclesfield Bank, SOUTH CHINA SEA, R/V Cape St. Mary, Sta 65, 76.8–82.3 m, 22 Jun 1964, coll. W. L. Chan. Paratypes: USNM 217510 (1), SL 83.9 mm, ANDAMAN SEA, R/V Anton Bruun, Cruise 1, Sta 22, 96 m, 10°37′N, 97°34′E, 24 Mar 1963; USNM 217611 (1), SL 81.5 mm, SOUTH CHINA SEA, R/V Cape St. Mary, Sta 29, 75–80.5 m, 16°04′N, 114°41′E, 14 Jun 1964, coll. W. L. Chan; USNM 217613 (1), SL 81.2 mm, SOUTH CHINA SEA, R/V Cape St. Mary, Sta 64, 82.3–84.1 m, 16°03′N, 114°43′E, 21 Jun 1964, coll. W. L. Chan; USNM 217738 (3), SL 59.8, 70.8, 88.5 mm, ANDAMAN SEA, R/V Anton Bruun, Cruise 1, Sta 28, 66 m, 11°49′N, 92°53′E, 27 Mar 1963; USNM 222194 (1), SL 156.9 mm, SOMALIA, R/V Anton Bruun, Cruise 9, Sta 463, 75–175 m, 11°24′N, 51°35′E, 17 Dec 1964.

DIAGNOSIS AND COMPARISONS.—A species of Synodus with the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays (branched and unbranched) 12–13 (usually 13); anal-fin rays 9–10 (usually 10); pored lateral-line scales 54–57 (usually 56); transverse scale rows 3.5/4; vertebrae 54–56 (usually 55); combined dorsal and anal procurrent rays 24–25; anterior palatine teeth not longest and not in a discrete group; peritoneal spots 7–8; posterior pelvic process narrow.

The narrow posterior pelvic process of this new species separates it from all known Indo-West Pacific Synodus except S. gibbsi, S. kaianus, S. macrops, and S. macrocephalus. The vertebral count of S. oculeus (54–56) is lower than that of S. kaianus and S. gibbsi (58–63 and 58–61 respectively). In addition the peritoneum of S. kaianus is black. The dermal flap of the anterior nares of S.oculeus is broad and rounded; that of S. macrops is long and triangular. The peritoneal spot count of S. macrops is lower (5–6 vs. 7–8). Synodus oculeus seems closely related to S. macrocephalus but can be easily separated from it by its more rounded snout and proportionally larger eye (9.0 vs. 7.3 percent SL), and wider interorbital space (5.6 vs. 4.2 percent SL). It has the highest dorsal-fin ray (longest ray 18 percent SL) of all known Indo-West Pacific Synodus (S. macrocephalus, 13.4 percent).

DESCRIPTION (holotype plus range).—Dorsal-fin rays 13(12-13); anal-fin rays 10(9–10); pectoral-fin rays 12; pelvic-fin rays 8; procurrent rays 25(24–25), dorsal 14(13–14), anal 11; lateral line continuous, 56(54–57) pored scales, scale rows above lateral line from dorsal origin 3.5; scale rows below lateral line to anal origin 4; predorsal scales 13–14 (holotype scales missing); rows of cheek scales 4(3–4); vertebrae 55(54–56); peritoneal spots 8(7–8).

Percentages of Standard Length: Mean (range): head length 30.9 (29.9–32.0); snout length 6.6(5.4–7.2); upper jaw length 17.5(16.7–18.1); diameter of bony orbit 9.1(7.3–10.1); least width of bony interorbital 5.6(4.9–6.7); snout to dorsal origin 44.2(41.5–46.6); snout to adipose origin 87.3(83.8–89.8); snout to anal origin 78.4(75.8–80.2); snout to pelvic insertion 39.5(37.3–41.0); snout to pectoral insertion 30.0(28.4–31.6); first-dorsal-ray length 10.5(8.2–11.8); longest-dorsal-ray length 18.0(16.2–19.2); pectoral-fin length 14.7(13.7–16.2); pelvic-fin length 25.2(23.1–27.1); dorsal-fin base 14.6(14.0–15.8); anal-fin base 9.8(7.8–10.7); based on 9 specimens 59.8 to 156.9 mm SL.

Body fusiform, head somewhat depressed, caudal region a little compressed. Large cycloid scales on body, cheeks, and operculum, postoral portion of cheeks scaly. Snout not sharply pointed, broader than long; the anterior nostril on each side bearing a broad, rounded flap extending beyond edge of nares when depressed anteriorly. Interorbital space concave, occipital region bony. Palatine teeth in an elonagate V-shaped pad, teeth pointing backwardly, those in front not largest and not in a discrete group. Lingual teeth well developed, those on free end of tongue largest and about 30 in number. Teeth caniniform, larger teeth with arrow-shaped tips. Pectoral fins reaching beyond a line from base of pelvic fins to origin of dorsal fin. Outer pelvic ray unbranched and short, fifth branched ray (sixth ray) longest. Posterior bony process of pelvic girdle narrow. Peritoneum pale.

COLOR PATTERN.—Preserved specimens usually pale. Some suggestion of dorsal pigment on Andaman Island specimens. Fins unmarked.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT.—This species is so far known from Somalia, Andaman Sea, and South China Sea. Depth of capture data for four collections indicate this species is found at depths of 66 to 96 m.

ETYMOLOGY.—The Latin oculeus (full of eyes) alludes to the relatively large eyes of this species.

Synodus oculeus (commonly called the large-eyed lizardfish) is a species of lizardfish that lives mainly in the Western Pacific.