Symphysanodon, also known as the slopefishes, is a genus of small marine ray-finned fishes. Most are found in the Indo-Pacific, but three species, S. berryi, S. mona, and S. octoactinus, are found in the Western Atlantic.[1] They are found on rocky reefs at depths of 50–700 m (160–2,300 ft). Traditionally, this genus is the only member of the family Symphysanodontidae,[1] but in 2017 a new species, C. aureolateralis, was placed in its own genus Cymatognathus.[2]
Description
The largest species of Symphysanodon can reach 20 cm (7.9 in) in length.[1] Their bodies are slender and compressed, with blunt snouts. They are red, pink, oranges or yellow in colour. The caudal fin is usually distinctively forked. The dorsal fins have 9 dorsal spines and 10 soft rays, whereas the anal fin has three anal spines and seven or eight soft rays.[3]
Species
There are currently 12 recognized species in this genus:[1]
^Kimura, S.; G.D. Johnson; T. Peristiwady; K. Matsuura (2017). "A New Genus and Species of the family Symphysanodontidae, Cymatognathus aureolateralis (Actinopterygii: Perciformes) from Indonesia". Zootaxa. 4277 (1): 51–66. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4277.1.4. PMID30308660.
^Anderson, W.D.Jr., Chesalin, M.V., Jawad, L.A. & Al Shajibi, S.R. (2015): Redescription of the percoid fish Symphysanodon andersoni Kotthaus (Symphysanodontidae) from the northwestern Indian Ocean, based on the holotype and the second known specimen. Zootaxa, 4021 (3): 475-481.
^Anderson, W.D.Jr. & Bineesh, K.K. (2011): A new species of the perciform fish genus Symphysanodon (Symphysanodontidae) from the Arabian Sea off the southwestern coast of India. Zootaxa, 2966: 31-36.
