Home · Synodontidae · Clouded lizardfish
Clouded lizardfish (Saurida nebulosa) — Synodontidae

Clouded lizardfish

Saurida nebulosa
Family: Synodontidae

The Clouded lizardfish (Saurida nebulosa) is a brackish-water fish of the family Synodontidae that grows up to 17 cm.

Length
16.5 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–100.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The clouded lizardfish is a lizardfish (Synodontidae) from shallow coastal water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 18 cm and has an elongate, cylindrical body with a cloudy brown-grey pattern, a lizard-like head and a broad, toothed mouth. As an ambush predator it lies buried on sand and tidal flats and seizes passing fish and crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Clouded lizardfish?

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

Where does the Clouded lizardfish live?

The Clouded lizardfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Clouded lizardfish get?

The Clouded lizardfish grows to a maximum of about 17 cm.

Is the Clouded lizardfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Clouded lizardfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Clouded lizardfish edible?

Yes, the Clouded lizardfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Bewolkte hagedisvis sourced
English name
Clouded lizardfish sourced
Scientific name
Saurida nebulosa
Family
Synodontidae
Other names
Blotched saury; Clouded lizardfish verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
100.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

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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