Trachinocephalus atrisignis

Trachinocephalus atrisignis
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Aulopiformes
Family:	Synodontidae
Genus:	Trachinocephalus
Species:	T. atrisignis
Binomial name
Trachinocephalus atrisignis Prokofiev, 2019

Trachinocephalus atrisignis, commonly known as the black-tipped lizardfish, is a species of lizardfish in the family Synodontidae. This species was described in 2019 by A.M. Prokofiev.[2]

Description

This species reaches a length of 15.0 cm (5.9 in).[3] It has a bluish-grey body with a saturated black spot on the tip of the dorsal fin. The snout length is 62.5-66.7% of the eye diameter, and the lower jaw has a concave dorsal edge that does not protrude beyond the upper jaw. It has 12-13 rays in the pectoral fin, 50-52 scales in the lateral line, and 53-54 vertebrae. It feeds on small invertebrates and other marine organisms.

Distribution and habitat

The species is endemic to the Western Indian Ocean, specifically near Socotra Island. They inhabit tropical waters and are often found near coral reefs.

Etymology

The genus name Trachinocephalus is derived from Greek, with "trachys" meaning rough and "kephale" meaning head. The species name atrisignis is derived from Latin, meaning "black tip", referring to the distinctive black spot on the dorsal fin tip.[4]

References

1. Russell, B. (2020). "Trachinocephalus atrisignis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T159099095A159100879. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T159099095A159100879.en. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
2. Prokofiev, A.M. (2019). "A new species of lizardfishes of genus Trachinocephalus from the Western Indian Ocean (Synodidae)". Journal of Ichthyology. 59 (3): 414–417. doi:10.1134/S0032945219030159.
3. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Trachinocephalus atrisignis". FishBase. February 2015 version.
4. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (22 September 2018). "Order AULOPIFORMES (Lizardfishes)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 21 November 2024.