Largescale Saury Click to enlarge image
A 50 cm - 60 cm long Largescale Saury in a Halophila seagrass bed at a depth of 9 m, Cabbage Tree Island, Port Stephens, New South Wales. Image: Dave Harasti
© Dave Harasti

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Saurida
    Species
    undosquamis
    Family
    Synodontidae
    Order
    Aulopiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The Largescale Saury grows to around 60 cm in length.

Introduction

The Largescale Saury is one of the largest members of its family, and has a impressive array of teeth that are visible when the mouth is closed.

Identification

The species has a brown back, speckled with white spots and a cream coloured belly. It is best distinguished from other Saurida species by the size of its scales.

Distribution

The species is found in the Western Pacific region, and in Australia occurs in tropical waters from north-western Western Australia, around the tropical north and south on the east coast to the central coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.


Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.