The variegated lizardfish (''Synodus variegatus'') is a

lizardfish The Synodontidae or lizardfishes(or typical lizardfish to distinguish them from the Bathysauridae and Pseudotrichonotidae) are benthic (bottom-dwelling) marine and estuarine bony fishes that belong to the aulopiform fish order, a diverse group ...

of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Synodontidae The Synodontidae or lizardfishes(or typical lizardfish to distinguish them from the Bathysauridae and Pseudotrichonotidae) are benthic (bottom-dwelling) marine and estuarine bony fishes that belong to the aulopiform fish order, a diverse group o ...

found in the western

Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...

and

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...

s, at depths from 4 to 90 m. It can reach a maximum length of 40 cm.

Description

The variegated lizardfish is rounded in cross-section with a broad, moderately flattened head and a large, wide mouth. The jaws protrude equally. Both jaws and all the mouth bones are covered with conical, barbed teeth. The strong, thick

pelvic fin Pelvic fins or ventral fins are paired fins located on the ventral surface of fish. The paired pelvic fins are homologous to the hindlimbs of tetrapods. Structure and function Structure In actinopterygians, the pelvic fin consists of two en ...

s serve as props when the fish is resting on the bottom waiting for prey. The variegated lizardfish varies in color from grey to red, with hourglass-shaped markings.

Taxonomy

The species ''

Synodus dermatogenys The sand lizardfish, clearfin lizardfish or variegated lizardfish (''Synodus dermatogenys'') is a species of lizardfish that lives mainly in the Indo-Pacific. Description ''Synodus dermatogenys'' is found in a marine environment within a reef-a ...

'' was once misidentified as ''S. variegatus'', while the true ''S. variegatus'' was referred to as ''S. englemani'' Schultz, 1953 by many authors, including Gosline & Brock (1960) and Cressey (1981). However, Waples and Randall (1989) showed that ''S. variegatus'' is a senior synonym of ''S. englemani'', and that ''S. dermatogenys'' is the correct name for the lizardfish that Cressey (1981) identified as ''S. variegatus''.WAPLES, R. S., and J. E. RANDALL. 1988. A revision of the Hawaiian lizardfishes of the genus ''Synodus'', with descriptions of four new species. Pac. Sci. 42(3-4): 178-213.

References

External links

Best Photo Posters & Canvas Printing
- Pictures and facts about variegated lizardfish and other reef fishes
Fishes of Australia : ''Synodus variegatus''
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q2376142

variegated lizardfish The variegated lizardfish (''Synodus variegatus'') is a lizardfish of the family Synodontidae found in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans, at depths from 4 to 90 m. It can reach a maximum length of 40 cm. Description The variegated lizard ...

Marine fish of Northern Australia

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