Home · Synodontidae · Slender lizardfish
Slender lizardfish (Saurida elongata) — Synodontidae

Slender lizardfish

Saurida elongata
Family: Synodontidae
LC · Least Concern

The Slender lizardfish (Saurida elongata) is a saltwater fish of the family Synodontidae that grows up to 50 cm.

Length
50 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–100.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The slender lizardfish is a lizardfish from the northwest Pacific, along Japan, Korea and China. The species grows to about 50 cm and has an elongate, cylindrical body with a large, lizard-like head and jaws full of fine, needle-sharp teeth. As a bottom-dweller it lies half-buried on sandy and muddy bottoms and darts up from ambush at small fish and crustaceans. It is a local food fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Slender lizardfish?

The Slender lizardfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Slender lizardfish live?

The Slender lizardfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Slender lizardfish get?

The Slender lizardfish grows to a maximum of about 50 cm.

Is the Slender lizardfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Slender lizardfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Slender lizardfish edible?

Yes, the Slender lizardfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Slanke hagedisvis verified
English name
Slender lizardfish verified
Scientific name
Saurida elongata
Family
Synodontidae
Other names
Long grinner; Shortfin lizardfish; Slender lizardfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
50.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
100.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
levensduur_max_jaar
7.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen / sleepnet sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Saurida

More from the family Synodontidae

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