Lizardfishes, sauries and bombay ducks are the common names used for the members of Synodontidae family. They occur in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. They are mainly saltwater fishes but can also occur in brackish water. They are recognized as small cylindrical fishes with spineless fins and large mouth full of slender sharp teeth, even on tongue. They are commonly called lizardfishes, due to their resemblance to lizard.
Lizardfishes are bottom-living fishes found in coastal, estuarine, and offshore shelf waters, to depths of about 300 m. They are voracious predators, feeding mainly on other small fishes and crustaceans.
There are 3 genera and about 68 species of Synodontidae worldwide. Malaysia has 3 genera and about 16 species.
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Scientific Name: Saurida tumbil (Bloch, 1795) English Name: Greater Lizardfish French Name: Anoli tumbil Mandarin Name: 狗母魚 (Gǒu mǔ yú) Local Malay Name: Ikan Conor, Mengkerong, Ubi, Pucung, Conor Curut Identification Features: The head pointed and depressed; the snout broader than long. Pectoral fin short, not or only just reaching to insertion of pelvic fin. The tips of the dorsal and pectorals and the lower caudal lobe blackish; adipose fin with a black marking. Size: Maximum standard length about 24 cm.  Scientific Name: Saurida undosquamis (Richardson, 1848) English Name: Brushtooth Lizardfish French Name: Anoli à grandes écailles Mandarin Name: 狗母魚 (Gǒu mǔ yú) Local Malay Name: Ikan Conor, Mengkerong, Ubi, Pucung, Conor Ekor Rintik Local Hokkien/Teochew: Kau Bo Identification Features: The head pointed and depressed; the snout rounded. Pectoral fin short, its posterior tip not reaching a line between origins of pelvic and dorsal fins. Upper margin of caudal fin with black dots; adipose fin with a black marking. Size: Maximum standard length about 28 cm.  Scientific Name: Synodus hoshinonis Tanaka, 1917 English Name: Blackear Lizardfish Mandarin Name: 狗母魚 (Gǒu mǔ yú) Local Malay Name: Ikan Conor, Mengkerong, Ubi, Ubi Pelana Identification Features: Body with alternating pale and dark saddle blotches above. Black blotch at upper edge of operculum. Size: Maximum total length 26 cm, commonly to 12 cm.  Scientific Name: Synodus myops (Forster, 1801) Synonym: Trachinocephalus myops (Forster, 1801) English Name: Bluntnose Lizardfish, Painted Grinner, Snakefish Mandarin Name: 大头花杆狗母 (Dàtóu huā gān gǒu mǔ), 狗母魚 (Gǒu mǔ yú) Local Malay Name: Ikan Conor, Mengkerong, Ubi, Pucung Identification Features: Snout very short. Body with alternating narrow dark-edged pale blue and yellow stripes; a large black spot at upper end of gill opening. Size: Maximum standard length about 25 cm.   Scientific Name: Synodus variegatus (Lacepède, 1803) English Name: Variegated Lizardfish Mandarin Name: 红斑狗母 (Hóngbān gǒu mǔ), 狗母魚 (Gǒu mǔ yú) Local Malay Name: Ikan Conor, Mengkarong, Ubi Sisik Pipi Identification Features: Body with dark red hourglass or saddle shaped markings. Size: Maximum total length 40 cm, commonly to 30 cm.   |