Symphysanodon

Symphysanodon, also known as the slopefishes, is a genus of small marine ray-finned fishes. Most are found in the Indo-Pacific, but three species, S. berryi, S. mona, and S. octoactinus, are found in the Western Atlantic.^[1] They are found on rocky reefs at depths of 50–700 m (160–2,300 ft). Traditionally, this genus is the only member of the family Symphysanodontidae,^[1] but in 2017 a new species, C. aureolateralis, was placed in its own genus Cymatognathus.^[2]

Symphysanodon
Symphysanodon katayamai
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Acropomatiformes
Family:	Symphysanodontidae
Genus:	Symphysanodon Bleeker, 1878
Species
See text

Description

The largest species of Symphysanodon can reach 20 cm (7.9 in) in length.^[1] Their bodies are slender and compressed, with blunt snouts. They are red, pink, oranges or yellow in colour. The caudal fin is usually distinctively forked. The dorsal fins have 9 dorsal spines and 10 soft rays, whereas the anal fin has three anal spines and seven or eight soft rays.^[3]

Species

There are currently 12 recognized species in this genus:^[1]

• Symphysanodon andersoni Kotthaus, 1974 (Buck-toothed slopefish)^[4]
• Symphysanodon berryi W. D. Anderson, 1970 (Slope bass)
• Symphysanodon disii Khalaf & Krupp, 2008 (Disi's slopefish)
• Symphysanodon katayamai W. D. Anderson, 1970 (Yellow-stripe slopefish)
• Symphysanodon maunaloae W. D. Anderson, 1970 (Long-tailed slopefish)
• Symphysanodon mona W. D. Anderson & V. G. Springer, 2005 (Akarnax slopefish)
• Symphysanodon octoactinus W. D. Anderson, 1970 (Insular slopefish)
• Symphysanodon parini W. D. Anderson & V. G. Springer, 2005 (Sala y Gómez slopefish)
• Symphysanodon pitondelafournaisei Quéro, Spitz & Vayne, 2009 (Réunion slopefish)
• Symphysanodon rhax W. D. Anderson & V. G. Springer, 2005 (Maldives slopefish)
• Symphysanodon typus Bleeker, 1878 (Insular shelfbeauty)
• Symphysanodon xanthopterygion W. D. Anderson & Bineesh, 2011 (Indian slopefish)^[5]