Sand Diver

Synodus intermedius

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Order: Aulopiformes

Family: Synodontidae

Description:

Sand divers have elongated bodies. Their patterns vary by the individual but typically match their environments. They may be up to 45 cm long.

Habitat:

Sand divers can be found mainly among the sandy bottoms around reefs. They can be found between a depth of 3 and 25 meters but can also be found as deep as 320 meters. They are a tropical and subtropical species.

Behavior:

Sand divers either prop themselves up on their pectoral fins or bury themselves in the sands around rocks and reef perfectly camouflaged and still, lying in wait for a smaller fish or crab to go so that it can snap it up.

Diet:

Sand divers feed mainly on small fish, shrimp and crabs.

Reproduction:

Sand divers are dioecious, fertilization occurs externally, and they do not guard their eggs.

Reference:

Sand Diver. Coral Realm, 31 May 2005. Web. 29 May 2013.
<http://www.coralrealm.com/detailurl.asp?speciesID=178>.

Luna, Susan M. Reproduction of Synodus Intermedius. FishBase, 11 July 2001.
Web. 29 May 2013.<http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Reproduction/FishReproSummary.php?ID=2720&GenusName=Synodus&SpeciesName=intermedius&fc=160&StockCode=2916>.

Froese, Rainer. Synodus intermedius. Ed. Cristina V. Garilao. FishBase, n.d. Web.
29 May 2013.< http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Synodus-intermedius.html>.

Sand Diver. Marine Species Identification Portal, n.d. Web. 29 May 2013.
http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=caribbean_diving_guide&menuentry=soorten&id=201&tab=beschrijving

Doeppner, Thomas W. St. Vincent/ Sand Diver. N.p., Jan. 2005. Web. 29 May 2013.< http://cs.brown.edu/~twd/fish/St.Vincent/pages/Sand%20Diver.htm>.

http://seattleyates.com/Sand%20diver%20CU.jpg