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Home › Ocean Creatures › Marine Life › Vertebrates › Lizardfishes

Interesting Facts about Lizardfishes

[Lizardfish Phylum: Chordata] [Class: Actinopterygii] [Order: Aulopiformes] [Family: Synodontidae]

There are about sixty (60) extant species of lizard fish and most of them belong to the diverse family of ray-finned bottom-dwelling aulopiform fish order (also called grinners and allies).

Yet, one of the underrated facts about lizardfish (Synodontidae) is the presence of a toothy mouth with razor-sharp teeth on both jaws, the roof of the mouth, and even on the tongue.

Lizard Fish Habitat and Geographical Range

Despite having a global distribution, most of the lizard fish species are found in tropical and subtropical marine waters.

They are resident across large parts of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, especially:

• Indo-Pacific (from parts of East Africa to Hawaii)
• Eastern Pacific (California, Baja California, Caribbean Sea)
• The Mediterranean Sea (including the Red Sea)
• Western Atlantic (from New England down to Brazil)

The "typical" lizardfishes are bottom-dwellers that prefer to live around sandy coral reefs in coastal zones. These areas provide them with lots of camouflage and a plentiful supply of food.

Despite the healthy populations in the wild, they are not easy to spot underwater. They spend most of the daytime lying motionless on the ocean floor, often partially buried in rubble for extra concealment.

In general, they prefer the rugged topography of shallow intertidal zones and brackish inshore estuaries (e.g. less than 100 metres deep).

But, sightings of Bathysauridae lizardfish deeper than four hundred metres (8000 feet) in deep continental shelves are not unusual, especially the deep sea lizard fish species (Bathysaurus ferox).

Lizardfish Characteristics and Size

The "cylindrical" body shape of lizardfishes is one of the distinctive features. Being somewhat elongated also gives them an eel-like appearance, similar to snake eels (family Ophichthidae) and weever fish (Trachinidae).

Nonetheless, a large, flat, and pointed lizardlike head, with a wide, angry-looking downturned mouth, helps to set them apart from the vast majority of benthic vertebrate fishes.

At full maturity, most of the species will grow to be around fifty (50) centimetres long (20 inches) and weigh up to one (1) kilogram. But, the deepsea lizard fish is the biggest of all, often reaching an overall length of seventy (70) centimetres (28 inches).

But wait - there's more:

Synodontidae have a large dorsal fin in the mid-back region and a small adipose fin close to the tail. The thoracic fins are set forward in the pelvic area and a forked tail (caudal fin) helps them generate quick bursts of speed.

The mottled patterns of brown and grey body colour give saltwater lizard fish a lot of camouflage while they rest motionless on the seabed, set against a backdrop of coral, sand, and rocky substrates.

Interesting Fact: Lizardfish seem to have countless ultra-sharp, conical shaped teeth inside a large mouth that opens wide enough to engulf fishes close to their own size and then swallow them whole. However, lizardfish are neither poisonous nor venomous for humans.

What Do Lizardfish Eat?

These nocturnal ambush predators have mastered the skill of waiting patiently (partly buried and almost lifeless) propped up on their pelvic fins while they wait to capture passing prey, and then engulf it with one swift bite.

Despite being a somewhat solitary and opportunistic hunter with a sit-and-wait attitude, lizardfish are carnivorous creatures that enjoy a varied diet. However, their preferred food source usually includes:

• Crustaceans, such as:
  • Crabs
  • Shrimps (including sand-hoppers)
• Cephalopods, especially:
  • Octopuses
  • Squids
• Slow-moving small fish, such as blennies, gobies, and wrasses.

Pro Tip: Another section contains 10 facts about weever fish species and how their behavioural traits and diet share some similarities with lizardfish. Picture used with the kind permission of the owner @Pacificklaus.

Types of Lizardfish Species

How Do Lizardfish Reproduce?

Detailed and accurate information about the reproductive process of lizardfishes (family Synodontidae) is limited and difficult to source. Moreover, breeding them in a captive environment has some unique challenges.

Scientists have yet to study the mating rituals of these secretive creatures in great detail. Still, a lot of the expert research is based on comparisons to similar oviparous creatures that live in brackish estuaries and lagoons.

Therefore...

We know that lizardfish reach sexual maturity around the age of one (1) and they spawn in open water. They do so through a process known as external fertilisation, so they release their eggs and sperm simultaneously (e.g. they are broadcast spawners).

The eggs are unguarded (pelagic), meaning they drift in the water column for several weeks with other planktonic organisms.

The larvae feed on organic debris called "marine snow" and eventually settle in a suitable domain on the ocean floor.

Lizardfish Predators and Threats

Some lizardfish species are fished commercially for consumption. They are edible and considered as being a tasty meal in some regions, particularly the coastal areas of the United States (e.g., California and Florida).

The contributing factors for a decline in some vulnerable regions include certain types of human behaviour, such as coral reef destruction and degradation, non-targeted bycatch in shrimp trawls, pollution in the ocean, and warming seas.

Here's the thing:

The known predators of the saltwater lizard fish species include barracudas, groupers, lionfish, jacks, sharks, and snappers.

Living in shallow coastal zones means they also fall prey to some marine mammals (e.g., dolphins) and seabirds, especially cormorants and herons.

Important: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species assessed most of the lizardfish species (Synodontidae) as being of "Least Concern" (LC).

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