Inshore lizardfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Inshore Lizardfish |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: |
Aulopiformes
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| Family: |
Synodontidae
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| Genus: |
Synodus
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| Species: |
S. foetens
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| Binomial name | |
| Synodus foetens (Linnaeus, 1766)
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The inshore lizardfish (Synodus foetens) is a type of fish. It belongs to the Synodontidae family. You can find this fish in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean.
Contents
What Does the Inshore Lizardfish Look Like?
The inshore lizardfish can grow up to 50 cm long. Most of the time, they are about 40 cm long. These fish can live for up to nine years. Their body shape is long and thin, like a cigar. The heaviest one ever found weighed about 900 grams. Female lizardfish are usually bigger than males when they are grown up.
This fish has a large, pointed mouth. Its snout is also pointed. The top part of its jaw goes past its eye. Inside its mouth, it has many thin teeth. These teeth are on its jaws and the roof of its mouth. The side line on its body is easy to see. This line has about 60 scales along its length.
The inshore lizardfish has no sharp spines on its back fin. It has 10 to 13 soft rays on its back fin. It also has no spines on its bottom fin. This fin has 11 to 13 soft rays. The fish has between 56 and 62 bones in its spine.
The top of the lizardfish can be different shades of brown or olive green. Its belly is white or yellow. Young lizardfish have dark spots. These spots become smaller or disappear as they get older. The sides of the inshore lizardfish have diamond-shaped patches. These patches can look different on each fish. They usually fade away as the fish grows. You can often see them along the middle of the fish's side.
The fin on its back is in the middle of its body. It also has a small, extra fin called an adipose fin. This fin often has a darker spot. The adipose fin is very small. Its base is not longer than the size of the fish's eye. The fin on its belly is usually as long as or longer than the fin on its back.
What Do Inshore Lizardfish Eat?
The inshore lizardfish is a clever hunter. It waits quietly for its food. This fish eats different kinds of smaller fish. It also eats small sea creatures without backbones. These include shrimp, crabs, and squid or octopus.
Where Do Inshore Lizardfish Live?
These fish live on the bottom of shallow ocean waters. They prefer sandy or muddy areas. You can find them in creeks, rivers, and among seagrasses. They also live in estuaries, bays, and lagoons. Adult lizardfish have also been found in the open sea. They live above the edge of the continental shelf.
Inshore Lizardfish Reproduction and Life Cycle
Inshore lizardfish lay their eggs in the water. The eggs are fertilized outside the fish's body. They lay eggs all year long. The parents do not guard their eggs. The eggs are round and float freely. They then settle onto plants and rocks.
Where Can You Find Inshore Lizardfish?
The inshore lizardfish lives in many places. You can find this fish in soft-bottom areas near the coast. They are common in the northern Gulf of Mexico. They live along the U.S. coast from New Jersey south. You can also find them near Bermuda, the Bahamas, and in the Caribbean Sea. This includes places like Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Saint Martin.
Why Are Inshore Lizardfish Important to Humans?
People often catch this fish by accident. This happens when fishing boats are trying to catch shrimp. This is common in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Many lizardfish die from being caught this way. However, they are usually thrown back into the sea. This is because they are not very valuable for selling.
What Does the Name "Synodus" Mean?
The name Synodus comes from two Ancient Greek words. Syn means "grown together." Odus means "teeth." This name describes how their teeth look.
