Lizardfish

ID points

• Flat lizard-like head with a very wide mouth
• Mouth full of fine needle teeth, visible even when closed
• Props itself on its pelvic fins on the sand and waits motionless

Basics

Family

Synodontidae

Length

20–40 cm

Depth

1-60 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic

Distribution

Tropical sandy bottoms

Habitat

Sandy bottoms near reefs

Diet

Small fish and crustaceans

Easily confused with

Brittle StarFive slender arms clearly set off from the central discFlatheadHead extremely flat and broad, with the eyes on topSea CucumberSoft cylindrical body, creeping slowly over the sand

Fun fact

It buries itself in the sand and waits motionless for prey. The mouth is lined with fine sharp teeth that curve inwards, so once something is inside there is no getting out again.