Home · Synodontidae · Longfin lizardfish
Longfin lizardfish (Saurida longimanus) — Synodontidae

Longfin lizardfish

Saurida longimanus
Family: Synodontidae

The Longfin lizardfish (Saurida longimanus) is a saltwater fish of the family Synodontidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
50.0–280.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Longfin lizardfish?

Get the app

Description

The Longfin lizardfish is a lizardfish (Synodontidae) of sand and mud bottoms around Australia and the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 25 cm and has an elongate, cylindrical, sand-coloured body with a lizard-like head and a large mouth full of needle teeth. As an ambush predator it lies half-buried and darts up at passing small fish and crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Longfin lizardfish?

The Longfin lizardfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Longfin lizardfish live?

The Longfin lizardfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman and others

How big does the Longfin lizardfish get?

The Longfin lizardfish grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Longfin lizardfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Longfin lizardfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Longfin lizardfish edible?

Yes, the Longfin lizardfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Longfin lizardfish (Saurida longimanus) — Synodontidae — 2
Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF
Longfin lizardfish (Saurida longimanus) — Synodontidae — 3
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Longfin lizardfish (Saurida longimanus) — Synodontidae — 4
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Longfin lizardfish (Saurida longimanus) — Synodontidae — 5
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Longfin lizardfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Longfin lizardfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Longfin lizardfish sourced
Scientific name
Saurida longimanus
Family
Synodontidae
Other names
Longfin lizardfish; Longfin saury; Long-finned lizardfish; Long-finned saury; Lizardfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
50.0 verified
Max depth (m)
280.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Saurida

Clouded lizardfish (Saurida nebulosa) — Synodontidae
Clouded lizardfish
Saurida nebulosa
Synodontidae
 Brushtooth lizardfish (Saurida undosquamis) — Synodontidae
Brushtooth lizardfish
Saurida undosquamis
Synodontidae
 Brazilian lizardfish (Saurida brasiliensis) — Synodontidae
Brazilian lizardfish
Saurida brasiliensis
Synodontidae
 Filamentosus saury (Saurida filamentosa) — Synodontidae
Filamentosus saury
Saurida filamentosa
Synodontidae
 Common grinner (Saurida tumbil) — Synodontidae
Common grinner
Saurida tumbil
Synodontidae
 Suspicious lizardfish (Saurida suspicio) — Synodontidae
Suspicious lizardfish
Saurida suspicio
Synodontidae

More from the family Synodontidae

Atlantic lizardfish (Synodus saurus) — Synodontidae
Atlantic lizardfish
Synodus saurus
Synodontidae
 Clouded lizardfish (Saurida nebulosa) — Synodontidae
Clouded lizardfish
Saurida nebulosa
Synodontidae
 Bombay duck (Harpadon nehereus) — Synodontidae
Bombay duck
Harpadon nehereus
Synodontidae
 Engleman's lizardfish (Synodus variegatus) — Synodontidae
Engleman's lizardfish
Synodus variegatus
Synodontidae
 Brushtooth lizardfish (Saurida undosquamis) — Synodontidae
Brushtooth lizardfish
Saurida undosquamis
Synodontidae
 Brazilian lizardfish (Saurida brasiliensis) — Synodontidae
Brazilian lizardfish
Saurida brasiliensis
Synodontidae
 California lizardfish (Synodus lucioceps) — Synodontidae
California lizardfish
Synodus lucioceps
Synodontidae
 Diamond lizardfish (Synodus synodus) — Synodontidae
Diamond lizardfish
Synodus synodus
Synodontidae
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Longfin lizardfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Longfin lizardfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Longfin lizardfish? Get the app