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Lizardfish (Synodus poeyi) — Synodontidae

Lizardfish

Synodus poeyi
Family: Synodontidae
LC · Least Concern

The Lizardfish (Synodus poeyi) is a saltwater fish of the family Synodontidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
27.0–320.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

Synodus poeyi is a lizardfish of the family Synodontidae from the western Atlantic. The species has an elongate, cylindrical body with a large, lizard-like head and a wide mouth full of small, sharp teeth. The colour is sandy brown with a mottling that provides camouflage on the bottom. Unlike many relatives the species is absent from the shore zone and lives further offshore. It is an ambush predator that hides half-buried in the bottom and lunges suddenly at passing fishes and invertebrates. The fish reaches about 25 cm.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Lizardfish?

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

Where does the Lizardfish live?

The Lizardfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Lizardfish get?

The Lizardfish grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Lizardfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Lizardfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Lizardfish edible?

The Lizardfish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Diepwater-hagedisvis sourced
English name
Lizardfish verified
Scientific name
Synodus poeyi
Family
Synodontidae
Other names
Offshore Lizardfish; Offshore lizardfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 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
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
27.0 verified
Max depth (m)
320.0 verified
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
Rarely eaten sourced
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 sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Synodus

More from the family Synodontidae

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