Frable et al.: Description of a new species of Synodus in the western Atlantic Ocean 
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North America 
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W.m 
Guifof \ ^ 
Mexico .*▼/ 
▼▼ 
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▼ 
mi 
I “wim» 
* 
* = Synodus intermedius 
▼ = Synodus macrostigmus 
Atlantic 
Ocean 
Q 
1 0°N 
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Figure 4 
Distribution map Synodus intermedius and S. macrostigmus, new species. Symbols indicate sampling 
localities, not individual specimens. Dashed-line ovals highlight area of overlap in distribution of 
these species. Map by Robert Myers (Coral Graphics), reprinted with permission. 
dorsal-fin ray 15.2-17.0% SL (16.1%); anal-fin base 
13.0-15.5% SL (14.3%), longest anal-fin ray 6. 9-9. 4% 
SL (7.7%); pectoral-fin length 12.5-14.7% SL (13.5%); 
pelvic-fin length 21.6-25.2% SL (23.3%); caudal-pe- 
duncle length 9.9-16.7% SL (13.4%), caudal-fin length 
16.5-21.5% SL (19.1%), ventral caudal lobe slightly 
longer than dorsal lobe. 
Upper jaw slightly shorter than lower jaw, mouth 
oblique, forming an 8° angle with the horizontal body 
axis; upper-jaw length 13.7-17.6% SL (15.9%) and 
55.8-63.8% HL (60.3%). Teeth thin, needlelike; upper 
jaw with 2 rows of teeth, teeth in inner row longer 
than teeth in outer row; lower jaw with 3 rows of teeth, 
size of teeth increasing medially, outer row covered by 
lips; posterior teeth in both jaws directed slightly an- 
teriorly. Palatine with 3-4 rows of depressible teeth, 
teeth directed posteromedially. Tongue with 5 rows of 
posteriorly directed teeth, largest near anterior tip. An- 
terior nostril on level with median axis of orbit; poste- 
rior nostril same size and situated slightly dorsal to 
anterior nostril; anterior nostril with large, leaf-shaped 
flap that tapers distaily, length of flap when depressed 
0.8-1. 2% SL (1.0%) and 2. 7-4.9% HL (3.8%); anterior 
portion of posterior nostril occluded by basal rim of flap 
(Fig. 2A); posterior nostril without flap. 
Cheek with 4-6 rows of large scales, modally 6; 
opercle with vertical row of 5-6 scales on anterior 
margin and several scales posteriorly; predorsal scales 
extending anteriorly to a position approximately one 
orbit diameter posterior to eye; interorbital region na- 
ked. Dorsal and anal fins each flanked basally by 10-12 
half scales, remainder of dorsal and anal fins without 
scales; large, diamond-shaped scales covering pelvic-fin 
base, remainder of pelvic fin and pectoral fin without 
scales; 6 rows of body scales extending onto base of 
caudal fin; upper and lower caudal lobes each with a 
single, enlarged, horizontally elongate scale. 
Coloration 
Before preservation (Fig. 3A) Head and dorsal half of 
trunk gray to greenish brown, ventral half of trunk 
pale; 6-8 dark brown markings along length of trunk 
laterally, at least some of them resembling wide crosses 
that are widest along lateral midline; markings on left 
and right portions of trunk connected to one another 
across dorsal midline to form saddles; trunk also with 
several thin orange-yellow stripes dorsally, stripes 
thicker or broken into orange blotches ventrally; groove 
above maxilla with stripe of black pigment from below 
anterior edge of orbit to posterior end of jaw; posterior 
edge of branchiostegal membrane pale yellow; scapu- 
lar region with large black blotch of pigment partially 
hidden by operculum, length 3.8-4.9%< SL (4.3%) and 
