15 photos - 8 species
Introduction
There are 2 subfamilies, 5 genera and over 70 species.
They are very well camouflaged, sometimes burying themselves in the sand.
They have a deeply cleft mouth with many pointed teeth, including on the tongue.
Lizardfish make a quick burst of speed to pounce on their prey.
Depending on the species, they reach a size of between 12 and 50 cm.
Saurida elongata
Slender lizardfish
Maximum length: 25 cm
Depth: 10 - 100 m+
Their habitats are deep lagoons and sandy slopes,
where they like to burrow during the day.
Night hunters.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi
Saurida gracilis
Gracile lizardfish
Maximum length: 32 cm
Depth: 1 - 135 m
Has two dark spots on its back and very sharp teeth on the sides of its jaws.
Can take off in a flash when lying in wait.
Eats small fish, regularly changing places.
More likely to be found in murky lagoons on the sand.
Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Saurida nebulosa
Clouded lizardfish
Maximum length: 20 cm
Depth: 1 - 15 m
Native to shallow, turbid waters.
Not easy to distinguish from other genera.
They are aptly named because of their lizard-like head.
The large mouth and tongue have many needle-like teeth.
Photo 1 Johnny: Elphinstone Egypt
Synodus dermatogenys
Sand lizardfish, Clearfin lizardfish or Variegated lizardfish
Maximum length: 23 cm
Depth :1 - 50 m
Near the coast on sandy areas.
Often buried in sand or rubble so that only nostrils and eyes are visible.
Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Synodus intermedius
Common sand diver
Maximum length: 45 cm
Depth: 8 - 25 m
Its body has thin golden longitudinal stripes and reddish-brown transverse bands.
May fade or darken to blend in with the substrate.
Lies on the sand, or buries itself so that only the eyes are visible,
but also likes to lie on reef tops.
Not shy, as it relies very much on its camouflage,
it only swims away if you get too close.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Photos 3 - 4 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean
Synodus rubromarmoratus
Redmarbled lizardfish
Maximum length: 12 cm
Depth: 9 - 50 m
Easily overlooked fish due to good camouflage.
Relatively pointed snout and clear banding.
Ot at the foot of drop-offs on rock and coral rubble.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi
Synodus variegatus
Variegated lizardfish
Maximum length: 28 cm
Depth: 3 - 50 m
The most common lizardfish in the reefs.
Usually colonizes outer reefs and lagoons in pairs.
It changes its position about every 4 minutes
and hunts for prey about every 30 minutes.
Photo 1 Johnny: El Qesir Egypt
Photos 2 - 3 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi
Trachinocephalus myops
Blunt-nose lizardfish
Maximum length: 30 cm
Depth: 0.5 - 200 m+
Found in groups on coastal sand flats down to great depths.
Usually buried in the sand up to their eyes.
When they are hunting, they can be seen in the open,
but afterwards they quickly burrow back into the sand.
Photo 1 Astrid: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi