Home · Synodontidae · Suspicious lizardfish
Suspicious lizardfish (Saurida suspicio) — Synodontidae

Suspicious lizardfish

Saurida suspicio
Family: Synodontidae
LC · Least Concern

The Suspicious lizardfish (Saurida suspicio) is a saltwater fish of the family Synodontidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
9 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The suspicious lizardfish is a lizardfish (Synodontidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species reaches only about 9 cm and has an elongate, cylindrical body and a lizard-like head with a wide mouth full of needle-sharp teeth. It inhabits coral reefs and adjacent sand bottoms, where as an ambush predator it waits half-buried or lying still for prey. With a lightning-fast lunge it seizes small fishes and crustaceans. Through its mottled, sand-coloured camouflage it blends almost completely into the bottom and is little noticed. The species has no market value.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Suspicious lizardfish?

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

Where does the Suspicious lizardfish live?

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

How big does the Suspicious lizardfish get?

The Suspicious lizardfish grows to a maximum of about 9 cm. On average the species is around 6 cm.

Is the Suspicious lizardfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Suspicious lizardfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Suspicious lizardfish edible?

The Suspicious lizardfish is not usually eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kleine hagedisvis sourced
English name
Suspicious lizardfish verified
Scientific name
Saurida suspicio
Family
Synodontidae
Other names
Suspicious lizardfish verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
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

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →