Inshore lizardfish (Synodus foetens)

Scientific name: Synodus foetens Linnaeus, 1766

Inshore lizardfish (Synodus foetens)

The Inshore lizardfish (Synodus foetens) is a brackish-water fish of the family Synodontidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 25–35°C (77–95°F). Native range: Western Atlantic, Massachusetts, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil.

Inshore lizardfish care at a glance

Temperature
25–35°C (77–95°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-13; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 13; Vertebrae: 56 - 62. Body elongate, cylindrical; head depressed, broader than deep, slightly rugose above, interorbital space concave; snout triangular, pointed, projecting beyond tip of mandible, typically longer than diameter of eye in specimens larger than 20.0 cm SL; 6-7 oblique rows of scales present on cheeks; top of head naked. Mouth very large, gape extends well past eye; upper jaw projects slightly, premaxillaries form entire margin of upper jaw; large, sharp depressible teeth present on upper jaw, tongue and lower pharyngeals. Scales small (except for patch of large elongate scales present below pectoral base and above pelvic base), lateral line well marked, not keeled. Dorsal fin origin equidistant form center of eye and adipose fin, anterior rays not reaching past tips of posterior rays with fin depressed; anal fin base longer than or equal to dorsal base

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Synodus foetens
Family
Synodontidae (Lizardfishes)
Order
Aulopiformes (Grinners)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
48.3
Common length
30.0
Depth range
0–200 m (0–656 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 200 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated