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 body of the variegated lizardfish is rounded in cross-section, with a broad, slightly flattened head and a large, wide mouth. The upper and lower jaws project equally, and both jaws, along with all mouth bones, are armed with conical, barbed teeth. Its strong, thick pelvic fins function as supports when the fish rests on the seabed while waiting to ambush prey.
The variegated lizardfish varies in color from grey to red, with hourglass-shaped markings.
Taxonomy The species Synodus dermatogenys 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).GOSLINE, W. A., and V. E. BROCK. 1960. Handbook of Hawaiian fishes. Univ. Hawaii Press, Honolulu.Cressey, R. 1981. Revision of the Indo-West Pacific lizardfishes of the genus Synodus (Pisces: Synodontidae). Smithson. Contrib. Zool. 342: I-53. 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.
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External links Animal Pictures - Pictures and facts about variegated lizardfish and other reef fishes Fishes of Australia : Synodus variegatus
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