Lizardfishes

Lizardfishes are known as 'Ulae in Hawaiian and Eso in Japanese. Most are difficult to identify without considerable experience and color morphs make it even worse. Saurida are easily distinguished by their tightly-packed bristle-like teeth on the lips. Synodus have 'normal' conical teeth with gaps between them and Trachinocephalus has eyes set high and far forward allowing it to remain buried with only the eyes exposed. All lunge rapidly into the water column to capture fishes. These primitive fishes have a small spineless dorsal fin and stubby adipose fin (small flap of skin) on the caudal peduncle just like salmon. Lizardfishes are very bony and poor for eating. Large individuals will reach 1 foot in length.

Cargo pier, Midway Atoll, 30 feet

Puako, Hawaii, 30 feet

Uncommon among coral reefs. Mouth full of bristle-like teeth with alternating orange bars. Reaches 13 inches. Hawaii, Johnston Island, Pitcairn, Austral Islands, and Rapa.

Cargo pier, Midway Atoll, 30 feet

Kaka'ako, Oahu, 50 feet

Cargo pier, Midway Atoll, 30 feet

Maeda Point, Okinawa, 30 feet

Common in areas of rubble, sand, or silt. Mouth full of bristle-like teeth with alternating brown bars. Attains nearly 1 foot. Tips of pectoral fins 2-3 scale rows ahead of origin of dorsal fin. Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Very similar to the Slender Lizardfish. Tip of pectoral fins 4-6 scale rows ahead of origin of dorsal fin. Lives in areas of sand and silt. Attains 8 inches. Maldives to Hawaii and Tahiti.

Macaw Wreck, Midway Atoll, 30 feet

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 20 feet

Firehouse, Oahu, 25 feet

Firehouse, Oahu, 25 feet

Slender species with 5 greenish brown saddles. Front 1/3 of body is light. Often seen resting upon coral branches. Despite its name most Synodus have two small dots on the snout tip. Reaches about 7 inches. Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Waianae, Oahu, 40 feet

Kahe Point, Oahu, 25 feet

Sharks Cove, Oahu, 35 feet

Kewalo, Oahu, 90 feet

Frequent on sandy reefs. Mottled light brown with pale blue lateral stripe. Very similar to the Brown Lizardfish but lighter in color and less robust. Reaches about 9 inches. Hawaii & the indo-Pacific.

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 50 feet	Macaw Wreck, Midway Atoll, 25 feet
Keoki's Ledge, Midway Atoll, 30 feet	Pearl & Hermes Reef, NWHI, 20 feet
Sea Cave, Oahu, 50 feet

Most common member of genus on mixed bottom. Large head and robust body. Irregular brown markings on light background. Reaches at least 13 inches. Hawaii, Japan, and Taiwan.

Ke'ei, Hawaii, 40 feet	Pupukea, Oahu, 40 feet
Kewalo Pipe, Oahu, 50 feet	Kewalo Pipe, Oahu, 50 feet
Kewalo Pipe, Oahu, 50 feet	Kewalo Pipe, Oahu, 50 feet

Common on reefs, often in pairs. Reddish or greenish brown with lateral stripe of dark blotches. Smaller and less robust than the Brown Lizardfish. Five dark saddles on back. Reaches about 10 inches. Hawaii & the indo-Pacific.

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 60 feet	Osezaki, Japan, 40 feet
Juvenile, Makua, Oahu, 30 feet	Juvenile, Makua, Oahu, 30 feet

Rare on sand in deeper water. Several blue stripes on body. Eyes set high and far forward, head blunt. Reaches about 13 inches. Common in Japan. Circumtropical.

Juvenile, Wakatobi, Indonesia, 25 feet	Wakatobi, Indonesia, 30 feet