Saurida nebulosa

Clouded Saury | Blotched Grinner | Blotched Saury | Clouded Lizardfish | Nebulous Lizardfish
Saurida nebulosa
Saurida nebulosa, adult, Lord Howe Is, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Saurida nebulosa
Saurida nebulosa, Bunaken Island, Indonesia
Saurida nebulosa
Saurida nebulosa, Townsville, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Saurida nebulosa
Saurida nebulosa, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Saurida nebulosa
Saurida nebulosa, Coral Sea, QLD, Photo: Andrew Green
Saurida nebulosa
Saurida nebulosa, juvenile, Lord Howe Is, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Saurida nebulosa
Saurida nebulosa, NSW, Australia, Photo: Ian Shaw
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Saurida nebulosa
Saurida nebulosa
Saurida nebulosa
Saurida nebulosa
Saurida nebulosa
Saurida nebulosa
Saurida nebulosa

Distribution

Temperate Australasia, Tropical Indo-Pacific


Description

Very difficult to separate from S. gracilis (gracile saury), but has a slightly longer gap between the front of the dorsal fin and the furthest rear extent of the folded back pectoral fin (requires expert advice and high quality photos). This species is much more commonly seen by divers around Australia than S. gracilis. Distinguished from Synodus lizardfish species by number of pelvic fin rays (9 rather than 8), but field identification based on less distinct or bright markings, and prominence of 3 dark bars over rear of body (the last on tail base).


Information

Max Size: 17 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 23.2-31.1°C

Depth: 0-100m

Habitat Generalization Index: 7.19

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Not Evaluated

Occurrence: Frequent (11.6% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Few (3 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: Andrew Green