California lizardfish facts for kids

The California lizardfish (Synodus lucioceps) is a fascinating fish found mostly along the coast of California. It has a long, brown body that helps it blend in perfectly with the sandy ocean floor where it lives. This amazing camouflage allows it to hide and then surprise its prey, like small fish and squid. California lizardfish lay eggs, and they usually do this during the summer.

What Does It Look Like?

The California lizardfish gets its name because its body is long and shaped like a cylinder. Its head and mouth also look a bit like a lizard's. The top of its body is a solid brown color. Its sides are lighter, turning tan, and its belly is white.

This fish has a dorsal fin (back fin) in the middle of its back. It also has a small, fleshy fin called an adipose fin behind the dorsal fin. Its yellowish pelvic fins are located in front of its dorsal fin. Each of these fins has about eight or nine rays. The tail fin, called the caudal fin, is forked, meaning it splits into two parts. The longest California lizardfish ever found was about 25.17 inches (63.9 cm) long. It can weigh up to 4 pounds (1.8 kg).

Because of its long body and sharp teeth, people sometimes confuse the California lizardfish with a barracuda. However, barracudas are silvery, not brown. Barracudas also have two dorsal fins that are similar in size, with a large space between them. The lizardfish, on the other hand, has only one main dorsal fin with a tiny fleshy fin behind it.

Where Do They Live?

The California lizardfish lives in many places. You can find it from Guaymas, Mexico, all the way up to San Francisco, California. Some have even been seen as far north as British Columbia, Canada. Others have been found far south near the Galápagos Islands.

These fish usually live on sandy bottoms in shallow water. This can be from 5 to 150 feet deep. But some have been found in much deeper water, up to 750 feet! People who fish usually do not try to catch California lizardfish. This is because their meat has a strong taste, a bit like iodine. However, they are sometimes caught by accident when people are fishing for other bottom-dwelling fish like halibut. They will bite most hooks that have bait on them.

How Do They Live?

The California lizardfish spends most of its time hidden on the sandy ocean floor. It might be partly buried or just resting there. It often props itself up slightly with its front fins, ready to act. When a small fish or squid swims by, the lizardfish quickly darts up to grab it. It swallows its prey whole.

Scientists believe these fish lay their eggs during the summer months. This is when adult fish are often seen gathering in sandy areas. Young lizardfish are very small, less than 3 inches (7.6 cm) long. They are almost clear and do not have scales. They have a line of big black spots under the skin of their belly. California lizardfish can live for about nine years. One fish found near the Galapagos Islands showed this from its ear bones, called otoliths. Sometimes, a tiny parasite called a tapeworm can live inside the California lizardfish.