Species: Saurida normani, Shortjaw Lizardfish

Saurida normani Longley, 1935

Shortjaw Lizardfish

Body slender, elongate, cylindrical; head pointed, eye large; snout about as long as eye; mouth large, slightly oblique, at front, lower jaw shorter than upper jaw, not visible from above when mouth is closed; many rows fine pointed teeth on jaws, tongue and (in 2 bands) on side of roof of mouth; fins without spines; one dorsal fin in mid-body, with a small skin-flap fin behind it above anal fin; pelvics on abdomen behind pectoral base, with 9 rays, inner rays about same length as outer rays; pectoral fin reaches distinctly past base of pelvics; scales smooth; lateral line straight, along entire body; tail fin with scales on bases of main rays but not on short rays on top and bottom of fin base; 51-56 lateral line scales; 4 rows of scales between lateral line and dorsal fin.

Greyish above, silvery below; 5-6 dark blotches along lateral line; dorsal and tail fins dusky; front edge of pelvic fins with a dark blotch.

Reaches 45 cm.

Lives on offshore softbottoms.

Depth range: 25-650 m.

S Carolina to central Brazil.