Relevant synonyms Melanostoma japonicum Synagrops natalensis Misidentification None Meristic formula D1, IX; D2, I+9; A, II+7; P, 16; GR, 13  photo : Marco Relini

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body oblong and compressed. Two separate dorsal fins, the first with 9 spines, the second with 1 spine and 9 soft rays. Operculum with two flat spines in the upper corner; margins of preoperculum entirely serrated. Interopercle and suboperculum partially serrated. Eyes large (3.5 in head length). Scales cycloid, small on head and very large on body. Anterior nostril small and round, posterior nostril in form of an almost vertical long slit. Villiform teeth and protruding canines: in the upper jaw, two on each side; in the lower jaw, two at symphysys and inside the space delimited by the upper canines; the other 3 - 5 along each side. color : head, body and all fins except pectorals brownish-black. Pectoral fin transparent. An area of transparent skin on dorsal surface of head. size : common 30 cm. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS S. philippinensis: outer edge of first hard ray of pelvic fin serrated (smooth in S. japonicus). Atlantic Synagrops spp.: the two dorsal fins almost touching. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Unknown. habitat : benthic deep water species, found on muddy bottoms between 250 and 450 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Ligurian Sea, Western Mediterranean, 1990. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Indo-Pacific: Natal, Zanzibar, Maldives, Philippines, Japan, Micronesia and Hawaii. Mediterranean : only a single record, in the Ligurian Sea, Western Mediterranean (Orsi Relini, 1990). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Unknown. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Heemstra P.C., 1984. Acropomatidae. In: Fischer W. and Bianchi G. (eds). FAO Species Identification Sheets for fishery purposes, Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 51). FAO of the United Nations. Vol. 1. pag. var. Heemstra P.C., 1986. Acropomatidae. In: Smith M. M. and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smith's Sea Fishes. pp. 561-563, Macmillan Publisher. Orsi Relini L., 1990. Synagrops japonicus (Steindachner e Doderlein, 1884) (Pisces, Acropomatidae) nel Mediterraneo: un migrante lessepsiano? Oebalia, 16-1: 217-223. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: March 2001 ©ciesm 2002