Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
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, origin equidistant form end of dorsal base and base of caudal rays; caudal fin not or barely reaching origin of pelvic fin; pelvic fins inserted closer to vent than to snout tip; inner ray of pelvic much longer than outer ray (Ref. 13608); adipose fin base no longer than diameter of pupil. Anterior nares with prominent dermal flap. Gill rakers rudimentary. Branchiostegals: 12-16 (Ref. 4639).Pigmentation: Color variable with both locality and immediate background; dorsum brownish or olivaceous and with overall greenish cast; mid-lateral line with about 8 obscure blotches, variable in occurrence and intensity, fading wit growth; head brownish with light vermiculations on top and sides, pale yellow below; belly white, silvery white, or yellowish, sometimes with brownish punctuations; pectorals dusky, yellowish, or light green; adipose with dark spot posteriorly.
- Recorder
- Cristina V. Garilao
Morphology
provided by Fishbase
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 13; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 11 - 13; Vertebrae: 56 - 62
- Recorder
- Cristina V. Garilao
Trophic Strategy
provided by Fishbase
Adults are found on both shallow and deep sand flats among grass (Ref. 12342, 39154, 39155), inshore in saltwater creeks, rivers, bays, sounds (Ref. 39156), and deep channels within lagoons (Ref. 39155). Probably more dense over mud than shell or calcareous bottom (Ref. 39157). Also found in open ocean over continental shelf (Ref. 4639). A solitary (Ref. 26340) voracious predator that lurks in shallow bays and shore waters; burrows in bottom sediments. Juveniles are pelagic, and readily collected from open ocean, usually near land in vicinity of or in shallow water (Ref. 4639).
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Adults are found on both shallow and deep sand flats among grass (Ref. 12342, 39154, 39155), inshore in saltwater creeks, rivers, bays, sounds (Ref. 39156), and deep channels within lagoons (Ref. 39155). Probably more dense over mud than shell or calcareous bottom (Ref. 39157). Also found in open ocean over continental shelf (Ref. 4639). A solitary (Ref. 26340) voracious predator that lurks in shallow bays and shore waters; burrows in bottom sediments. Juveniles are pelagic, and readily collected from open ocean, usually near land in vicinity of or in shallow water (Ref. 4639). Mostly piscivorous, also includes shrimps, crabs and cephalopodes (Ref. 93252). Oviparous, newly hatched larvae are found near the surface at depths from 27 to 46 m (Ref. 39159). Salinity range 4.0-60.0 ppt (may include juveniles), more abundant above 10.0 ppt and 30.0 ppt (Ref. 39158, 39162, 39050). Commonly caught by anglers but considered a nuisance.
Importance
provided by Fishbase
fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes
Inshore lizardfish
provided by wikipedia EN
The inshore lizardfish (Synodus foetens) is a member of the family Synodontidae[1] found in the western Atlantic.
Description
The inshore lizardfish has a maximum length recorded of about 50 cm but generally we see them at about 40 cm long. Their lifespan can be up to nine years.[1] The body of this species is elongated, similar to a cigar.[2] The maximum weight has been seen as 900 g.[1] Females are generally larger than males when mature.[2] The shape of the mouth of this species is large and pointed. The snout is pointed. The top jaw extends beyond the eye. Many slender teeth are present in the roof of the mouth and jaws. The lateral line is considered to be well marked.[3] The lateral line encompasses around 60 scales along the length.[2] The inshore lizardfish has no dorsal spines, 10-13 dorsal soft rays, no anal spines, 11-13 anal soft rays, and 56-62 vertebrae.[3] The color of the dorsal side of the lizardfish ranges from various shades of brown to olive. The belly side ranges from white to yellow. Juveniles have dark spots, these spots are reduced/absent in adults. The sides of the inshore lizardfish have patches that are diamond-shaped.[2] These patches vary in occurrence and intensity, they usually fade with growth and usually occur at the midlateral line on the fish.[3] The dorsal fin is on the center of the back. An adipose fin is present in this species, usually showing a darker spot.[2] The adipose fin is small in size with the base of the fin being no longer than the diameter of the pupil.[3] The anal fin is usually equal in length or longer than the dorsal fin.[3]
Diet
The inshore lizardfish is an ambush predator. Its diet consists of various fish and small invertebrates.[1] They include: shrimp, crabs, and cephalopods.[2]
Habitat
The habitats for these fish include the bottom in shallow inshore marine waters, usually over sand or mud bottoms, including creeks, rivers, among seagrasses, estuaries, bays, and lagoons.[1] Adults have been found to be also in the open sea above continental shelves.[3]
Reproduction and lifecycle
Fertilization has been observed to be external. They spawn all throughout the year. They do not guard their spherical-shaped eggs because the eggs are scattered in the water; they fall into plants and rocks.[2]
Distribution
The inshore lizardfish is widely distributed. This fish can be found over soft-bottom inshore areas, especially in the northern Gulf of Mexico[1] described as "in the western Atlantic from New Jersey south along the U.S. coast, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and in the Caribbean from Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and St. Martin" (2015).
Importance to humans
This species is often captured during shrimp trawls. This occurs in the northern Gulf of Mexico. High mortality occurs from trawl bycatch for this species, but they are usually just discarded after being caught because they have little to no commercial value.[1]
Etymology
The generic name Synodus is from the Greek syn, meaning grown together, and odus meaning teeth.[3]
References
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^ a b c d e f g Russell, B., Polanco Fernandez, A., Moore, J. & McEachran, J.D. 2015. Synodus foetens. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T16441698A16509727. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T16441698A16509727.en. Downloaded on 1 May 2017.
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^ a b c d e f g Harry, Shivrani. "Synodus foetens (Inshore Lizardfish)." The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago . UWI, 2016. Web. 30 Apr. 2017.
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^ a b c d e f g Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray, 1986. A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p. (Ref. 7251)
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Inshore lizardfish: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
The inshore lizardfish (Synodus foetens) is a member of the family Synodontidae found in the western Atlantic.
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- Wikipedia authors and editors
Distribution
provided by World Register of Marine Species
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil
North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)
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- WoRMS Editorial Board
Habitat
provided by World Register of Marine Species
benthic
North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)
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