Synodontidae
Encyclopedia
The Lizardfishes are a family, the Synodontidae, of aulopiform
fish. They are found in tropical and subtropical marine waters throughout the world.
Lizardfishes are generally small fish, although the largest species are about 60 centimetres (23.6 in) long. They have slender, somewhat cylindrical bodies, and heads that resemble those of lizard
s. The dorsal fin
is located in the middle of the back, and accompanied by a small adipose fin placed closer to the tail. They have mouths full of sharp teeth, even on the tongue.
They are bottom-dwelling fish, living in shallow coastal waters; even the deepest dwelling lizardfish lives in waters no more than 400 metres (1,312.3 ft). Some species in the subfamily Harpadontinae
even live in brackish estuaries. They prefer sandy environments, and typically have body colours that help to camouflage them in such environments.
The larva
e of lizardfishes are free-swimming. They are distinguished by the presence of black blotches in their guts, clearly visible through their transparent, scale-less, skin.
Family Synodontidae
Aulopiformes
Aulopiformes is an order of marine ray-finned fish consisting of some 15 extant and several prehistoric families with about 45 genera and over 230 species. The common names grinners, lizardfishes and allies or aulopiforms are sometimes used for this group...
fish. They are found in tropical and subtropical marine waters throughout the world.
Lizardfishes are generally small fish, although the largest species are about 60 centimetres (23.6 in) long. They have slender, somewhat cylindrical bodies, and heads that resemble those of lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s. The dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
is located in the middle of the back, and accompanied by a small adipose fin placed closer to the tail. They have mouths full of sharp teeth, even on the tongue.
They are bottom-dwelling fish, living in shallow coastal waters; even the deepest dwelling lizardfish lives in waters no more than 400 metres (1,312.3 ft). Some species in the subfamily Harpadontinae
Harpadontinae
Harpadontinae is a subfamily of lizardfishes in the Synodontidae family.It comprises two genera:*Harpadon*Saurida-References:*...
even live in brackish estuaries. They prefer sandy environments, and typically have body colours that help to camouflage them in such environments.
The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e of lizardfishes are free-swimming. They are distinguished by the presence of black blotches in their guts, clearly visible through their transparent, scale-less, skin.
Species
There are 67 species, grouped into four genera:Family Synodontidae
- Subfamily SynodontinaeSynodontinaeSynodontinae is a subfamily of lizardfishes in the Synodontidae family.It comprises two genera:*Synodus*Trachinocephalus-References:**...
- Genus SynodusSynodusSynodus is a genus in the lizardfish family , with 37 species.-Species:** Synodus amaranthus Waples & Randall, 1988** Two-spot lizard fish, Synodus binotatus Schultz, 1953...
- Synodus amaranthusSynodus amaranthusThe Synodus amaranthus is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Eastern Central Pacific....
Waples & Randall, 1988 - Two-spot lizard fishTwo-spot lizard fishThe Sand lizardfish is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae, that lives mainly in the Indo-Pacific....
, Synodus binotatus Schultz, 1953 - Capricorn lizardfishCapricorn lizardfishThe Capricorn lizardfish which is also known as Synodus capricornis, is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Pacific Ocean....
, Synodus capricornis Cressey & Randall, 1978 - Sand lizardfishSand lizardfishThe Two-spot lizardfish which is also known as Synodus binotatus is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Indo-Pacific ....
, Synodus dermatogenys Fowler, 1912 - Arrowtooth lizardfishArrowtooth lizardfishThe arrowtooth lizardfish, Synodus doaki, is a lizardfish of the family Synodontidae, found in the indo-Pacific oceans, at depths of between 9 and 200 m. Its length is between 15 and 28 cm.-References:...
, Synodus doaki Russell & Cressey, 1979 - Engleman's lizardfishEngleman's lizardfishThe Engleman's lizardfish, which is also known as Synodus englemani is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Indo-Pacific....
, Synodus englemani Schultz, 1953 - Inotted lizardfishInotted lizardfishThe Inotted lizardfish which is also known as Synodus evermanni is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Eastern Pacific....
, Synodus evermanni Jordan & Bollman, 1890 - Synodus falcatusSynodus falcatusThe Synodus falcatus is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Eastern Central Pacific....
Waples & Randall, 1988 - Inshore lizardfishInshore lizardfishThe Inshore Lizardfish, Synodus foetens, inhabits the east coast of the Americas. They are a slender fish, growing to no more than 16 inches in length. The mouth is large and wide, the upper jaw extending beyond the eyes. The jaws contain many needle-like teeth, found as well as on the...
, Synodus foetens (Linnaeus, 1766) - Synodus fuscusSynodus fuscusSynodus fuscus is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Northwest Pacific....
Tanaka, 1917 - Synodus gibbsiSynodus gibbsiThe Synodus gibbsi is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Indian Ocean and India....
Cressey, 1981 - Blackear lizardfishBlackear lizardfishThe Blackear lizardfish which is also known as Synodus hoshinonis is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Indo-West Pacific....
, Synodus hoshinonis Tanaka, 1917 - Indian lizardfishIndian lizardfishThe Indian lizardfish which is also known as Synodus indicus is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Indo-West Pacific....
, Synodus indicus (Day, 1873) - Sand diverSynodus intermediusThe Sand diver, or Synodus intermedius is a species of lizardfish found around Bermuda and the northern Gulf of Mexico reaching to the Guianas.Size: Length up to 45 cm. .Habitat: Shallow waters to 320 m...
, Synodus intermediusSynodus intermediusThe Sand diver, or Synodus intermedius is a species of lizardfish found around Bermuda and the northern Gulf of Mexico reaching to the Guianas.Size: Length up to 45 cm. .Habitat: Shallow waters to 320 m...
(Spix & Agassiz, 1829) - Lighthouse lizardfishLighthouse lizardfishThe Lighthouse lizardfish which is also known as Synodus jaculum is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Indo-Pacific. ....
, Synodus jaculum Russell & Cressey, 1979 - Synodus janusSynodus janusThe Synodus janus is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Pacific...
Waples & Randall, 1988 - Gunther's lizard fishGunther's lizard fishThe Gunther's lizardfish which is also known as Synodus kaianus is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that seems to live mainly in the Pacific Ocean this fish species is extremely rare and so far only one specimen has been found in Hawaii....
, Synodus kaianus (Günther, 1880) - Sauro lizardfishSauro lizardfishThe Sauro lizardfish which is also known as Synodus lacertinus is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Eastern Pacific....
, Synodus lacertinus Gilbert, 1890 - Synodus lobeliSynodus lobeliThe Synodus lobeli is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Northwest Pacific ....
Waples & Randall, 1988 - California lizardfishCalifornia lizardfishThe California lizardfish is a lizardfish primarily inhabiting the Californian coast. It has a long, brown body, which offers it camouflage in its habitat, the sandy bottom of the ocean. From its hiding spot on the bottom it ambushes small fish and squid...
, Synodus lucioceps (Ayres, 1855) - Synodus macrocephalusSynodus macrocephalusThe Synodus macrocephalus lizardfish is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Indo-West Pacific....
Cressey, 1981 - Triplecross lizardfishTriplecross lizardfishThe Triplecross lizardfish which is also known as Synodus macrops is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Indo-West Pacific....
, Synodus macrops Tanaka, 1917 - LizardfishSynodus marchenaeThe Synodus marchenae is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that is found in the highest concentrations in the Southeast Pacific ....
, Synodus marchenaeSynodus marchenaeThe Synodus marchenae is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that is found in the highest concentrations in the Southeast Pacific ....
Hildebrand, 1946 - Synodus mascarensisSynodus mascarensisThe Synodus mascarensis is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that is found in the highest concentrations in the Mascarene Ridge...
- Synodus oculeusSynodus oculeusThe Synodus oculeus is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Western Pacific....
Cressey, 1981 - Synodus orientalisSynodus orientalisSynodus orientalis is a lizardfish species in the family Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Northwest Pacific....
- Offshore lizardfishOffshore lizardfishThe offshore lizardfish, Synodus poeyi, is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that occurs chiefly in the Western Atlantic...
, Synodus poeyi Jordan, 1887 - Synodus randalliSynodus randalliThe Synodus randalli is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea ....
Cressey, 1981 - Redmarbled lizardfish, Synodus rubromarmoratus Russell & Cressey, 1979
- Speartoothed grinnerSpeartoothed grinnerThe Speartoothed grinner lizardfish which is also known as Synodus sageneus is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Indo-West Pacific....
, Synodus sageneus Waite, 1905 - Atlantic lizardfishAtlantic lizardfishThe Atlantic lizardfish, which is also known as Synodus saurus, is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that primarily lives in the Eastern Atlantic....
, Synodus saurus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Shorthead lizardfishShorthead lizardfishThe shorthead lizardfish, Synodus scituliceps, is a species of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the eastern Pacific Ocean....
, Synodus scituliceps Jordan & Gilbert, 1882 - Sechura lizardfishSechura lizardfishThe Sechura lizardfish, Synodus sechurae, is a species of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the eastern Pacific Ocean....
, Synodus sechurae Hildebrand, 1946 - Lavender lizardfishLavender lizardfishThe lavender lizardfish, Synodus similis, is a lizardfish of the family Synodontidae, found in the western Pacific including Japan, north eastern Australia, Lord Howe Island, and northern New Zealand, at depths down to 75 m...
, Synodus similis McCulloch, 1921 - Diamond lizardfishDiamond lizardfishThe Diamond lizardfish which is also known as Synodus usitatus is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Eastern Atlantic...
, Synodus synodus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Synodus tectusSynodus tectusThe Synodus tectus lizardfish is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Indo-West Pacific....
Cressey, 1981 - Red lizard fishRed lizard fishThe Red Lizardfish which is also known as Synodus ula is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Western Atlantic....
, Synodus ulae Schultz, 1953 - Synodus usitatusSynodus usitatusThe Synodus usitatus lizardfish is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the indo-west pacific....
Cressey, 1981 - Variegated lizardfishVariegated lizardfishThe variegated lizardfish, Synodus variegatus, is a lizardfish of the family Synodontidae, found in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean, at depths from 4 m to 90 m. It can reach a maximum length of 40 cm....
, Synodus variegatus (Lacepède, 1803)
- Synodus amaranthus
- Genus Trachinocephalus
- SnakefishSnakefishFor the Israeli band whose name translates to "snakefish" see Hadag NahashSnakefish is a colloquial term used for a number of species of fish that resemble snakes. Trachinocephalus myops, native to parts of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, in particular is known by this name....
, Trachinocephalus myopsTrachinocephalus myopsTrachinocephalus myops is a marine fish. It is a member of the lizardfish family and sometimes known as the snakefish and is the sole member of its genus.-External links:* http://www.austmus.gov.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/tmyops.htm...
(Forster, 1801)
- Snakefish
- Genus Synodus
- Subfamily HarpadontinaeHarpadontinaeHarpadontinae is a subfamily of lizardfishes in the Synodontidae family.It comprises two genera:*Harpadon*Saurida-References:*...
- Genus HarpadonHarpadonHarpadon is a genus of bony fishes in the Synodontidae family.The most famous member of this genus is the Bombay duck, much appreciated in Indian cuisine, especially in the area around Mumbai.-Species:* Harpadon erythraeus...
- Bombay DuckBombay duckThe Bombay duck or bummalo is, despite its name, not a duck but a lizardfish. It is native to the waters between Mumbai and Kutch in the Arabian Sea, and a small number are also found in the Bay of Bengal. Great numbers are also caught in the South China Sea...
s- Harpadon erythraeusHarpadon erythraeusHarpadon erythraeus is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Western Indian Ocean....
Klausewitz, 1983 - Harpadon microchirHarpadon microchirThe Harpadon microchir is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Indo-Pacific....
Günther, 1878 - Bombay duck, Harpadon nehereusBombay duckThe Bombay duck or bummalo is, despite its name, not a duck but a lizardfish. It is native to the waters between Mumbai and Kutch in the Arabian Sea, and a small number are also found in the Bay of Bengal. Great numbers are also caught in the South China Sea...
(Hamilton, 1822) - Harpadon squamosusHarpadon squamosusThe Harpadon squamosus is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the coasts around India ....
(Alcock, 1891) - Glassy Bombay DuckGlassy Bombay DuckThe Glassy Bombay Duck lizardfish which is also known as Harpadon translucens is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives in the mainly in the Indo-West Pacific...
, Harpadon translucens Saville-Kent, 1889
- Harpadon erythraeus
- Genus SauridaSauridaSaurida is a genus of lizardfishes in the Synodontidae family.-Species:*Saurida argentea Macleay, 1881*Saurida brasiliensis Norman, 1935*Saurida caribbaea Breder, 1927...
- Shortfin sauryShortfin sauryThe shortfin saury, Saurida argentea, is a species of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the western Pacific Ocean....
, Saurida argentea Macleay, 1881 - Brazilian lizardfishBrazilian lizardfishThe Brazilian lizardfish which is also known as Saurida brasiliensis is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Eastern Atlantic...
, Saurida brasiliensis Norman, 1935 - Smallscale lizardfishSmallscale lizardfishThe Smallscale lizardfish which is also known as Saurida caribbaea is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Western Atlantic...
, Saurida caribbaea Breder, 1927 - Slender lizardfishSlender lizardfishThe Slender lizardfish which is also known as Saurida elongata is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Northwest Pacific....
, Saurida elongata (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) - Saurida filamentosaSaurida filamentosaThe Saurida filamentosa is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Western Pacific....
Ogilby, 1910 - Orangemouth lizardfishOrangemouth lizardfishThe Orangemouth lizardfish which is also known as Saurida flamma is a type of lizardfish or Synodontidae that lives mainly in the Eastern Central Pacific....
, Saurida flamma Waples, 1982 - Gracile lizardfishGracile lizardfishThe Gracile lizardfish is a type of Lizardfish which lives mainly in the Indo-pacific region....
, Saurida gracilis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) - Grey sauryGrey sauryThe Grey saury, also known as Saurida elongata, is a type of lizardfish that lives off the coast of Australia...
, Saurida grandisquamis Günther, 1864 - Shortjaw sauryShortjaw sauryThe Shortjaw saury is a type of Lizardfish that lives mainly in the pacific...
, Saurida isarankurai Shindo & Yamada, 1972 - Longfin lizardfishLongfin lizardfishThe Longfin Lizardfish is a type of Lizardfish that lives mainly in the Indian Ocean...
, Saurida longimanus Norman, 1939 - Saurida microlepisSaurida microlepisThe Saurida microlepis is a type of lizardfish that lives across the oceans of the world....
Wu & Wang, 1931 - Shortfin lizardfishShortfin lizardfishThe Shortfin lizardfish is a type of Lizardfish that lives mainly off the coast of Japan...
, Saurida micropectoralis Shindo & Yamada, 1972 - Clouded lizardfishClouded lizardfishThe Clouded lizardfish which is also known as is a type of lizardfish that lives mainly in in the south pacific...
, Saurida nebulosa Valenciennes, 1850 - Shortjaw lizardfishShortjaw lizardfishThe Shortjaw lizardfish which is also known as the Saurida normani is a type of Lizardfish that lives mainly in lives in tropical waters...
, Saurida normani Longley, 1935 - Saurida pseudotumbilSaurida pseudotumbilSaurida pseudotumbil are a type of Lizard Fish Synodontidae that live primarily off the coast ofIndia....
Dutt & Sagar, 1981 - Suspicious lizardfishSuspicious lizardfishThe Suspicious lizardfish is a type of lizardfish that lives mainly in the Caribbean...
, Saurida suspicio Breder, 1927 - Greater lizardfishGreater lizardfishThe Greater lizardfish which is also known as Saurida tumbil is a type of Lizardfish that lives mainly off the coast of Oman...
, Saurida tumbil (Bloch, 1795) - Saurida umeyoshiiSaurida umeyoshiiThe Saurida umeyoshii is a type of lizardfish that lives primarily in the Pacific Northwest...
Inoue & Nakabo, 2006. - Brushtooth lizardfishBrushtooth lizardfishThe Brushtooth lizardfish is a type of lizardfish that lives mainly in the Red Sea region....
, Saurida undosquamis (Richardson, 1848) - Wanieso lizardfishWanieso lizardfishThe Wanieso lizardfish is a type of lizardfish also known as Saurida wanieso that lives in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans ....
, Saurida wanieso Shindo & Yamada, 1972
- Shortfin saury
- Genus Harpadon