Fun Inshore Lizardfish Facts For Kids

The inshore lizardfish, scientific name Synodus foetens, is one of the most exciting fish to look for in waters, especially for kids! It has beautiful brown colors and sometimes camouflages into the water and sand, making it challenging to find them. You may be surprised to learn that the mouth of inshore lizardfish is proportionately bigger than their body. The inshore lizardfish seems harmless to humans, but it is a powerful monster when attacking other creatures underwater including octopuses and squids. If you're an explorer of the seas, look out for these guys. Inshore lizardfish can be found in both deep and shallow water, so make sure to keep your eye on anywhere from where your feet are up - they like variety as much as we do! In the shallows, this fish disguises itself as seaweed or coral until a tasty meal swims by when it opens its big mouth to snap up food!  Surprisingly enough, inshore lizardfish have also been seen tail-walking. Tail walking gives them an advantage when hunting. Read on to find out more. You'll be pleasantly surprised how fascinating smalltooth sawfish and sandperch carnivorous fish are too!
 

What type of animal is an inshore lizardfish?

As is obvious from the name, the inshore lizardfish is a fish.

What class of animal does an inshore lizardfish belong to?

The inshore lizardfish is a fish that's part of the Actinopterygii class. These fish live in shallow inshore water widely distributed around the continental shelf of the US coast and western Atlantic region, mostly with sand or mud bottoms, and are often found swimming near the marine regions of New Jersey, Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico.

How many inshore lizardfish are there in the world?

No one really knows how many inshore lizardfish are in the world. It's a question that has never been answered because it is difficult to measure the populations of these creatures who live close to shore and sand while they stay hidden under rocks at low tide. However, there are over 57 species of lizardfish currently.

Where does an inshore lizardfish live?

Inshore lizardfish are widely distributed mostly along the sand or mud shallow inshore marine continental shelf of oceans, seas, and other water bodies of the US coast, Gulf of Mexico, Western Atlantic region, Florida and New Jersey.

What is an inshore lizardfish's habitat?

Inshore lizardfish, Synodus foetens species, have different types of habitat and are widely distributed in shallow inshore marine areas and dark places. They enjoy living near the sand or mud bottoms either shallow inshore, close to shore, or deep dark underwater depending on which is most beneficial for them at that time. The Barracuda fish is also commonly found on the Atlantic coast and ocean.

Who do inshore lizardfish live with?

The inshore lizardfish live together with all of their friends, sometimes even in hundreds of schools near each other off shorelines around the continental shelf of the Atlantic marine. They also have some pretty flashy brown colors which make people think about how important camouflage is.

How long does an inshore lizardfish live?

The lifespan of the Synodus foetens, inshore lizardfish, is surprisingly high considering they are not preyed upon frequently by larger species. They are known to live for around nine years on average.

How do they reproduce?

The inshore lizardfish have a fascinating reproductive cycle. They spawn throughout the year and are the only fish documented to do so in their area, which is surprising considering how many different types of fish live nearby. When they lay eggs, females will cover them with sand or mud for protection against ambush predator attacks during incubation.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of inshore lizardfish is the Least Concern for now but they are threatened by humans, specifically by the anglers.

What do inshore lizardfish look like?

The inshore lizardfish identification is easy, as it's a type of marine fish often found in the shallow inshore water off Atlantic coastlines. The inshore lizardfish is one of the most common fish in Florida. The Synodus foetens species of fish is slender and has sharp teeth on the roof of the mouth. This is because it prefers to eat crabs, shrimp trawls, fish eggs, or other small prey items. These fish also sport a pointed snout with an oversized jaw that gives them more biting power while hunting. This fish has an adipose fin along with a dorsal fin. The color ranges from brown to grays, but its always slim slender fitting with a sharp dorsal fin in addition to an adipose fin.

How cute are they?

The inshore lizardfish may look innocent and super cute with their adorable adipose fin but are fierce predators with their pointed snout that can take an unsuspecting prey with ease. If you like cute fish, check out the clown triggerfish instead - you are going to fall in love!

How do they communicate?

The inshore lizardfish use their dorsal fin to communicate with each other. The fish will tap the water surface, and then quickly swim towards where they think another fish is to establish a territory or locate prey and predators.

How big is an inshore lizardfish?

The size of inshore lizardfish ranges between 12-20 in (30-50 cm) mostly. Inshore lizardfish are almost three times the size of yellow tang fish.

How fast can an inshore lizardfish swim?

Outshining many other types, the inshore lizardfish is one fish you don’t want to mess around with. The inshore lizardfish speed can be as fast as 3-6 mph (4-10 kph).

How much does an inshore lizardfish weigh?

One of the more interesting species, inshore lizardfish weigh anywhere from 1.5-2 lb (600-900g) and have tough skin that is used to protect them against predators.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Inshore lizardfish do not have specific names for male and female fish. However, inshore lizardfish males and females are known for their size differences. The female is larger than the male, but it’s not enough to make up the difference of a pound or two in weight.

What would you call a baby inshore lizardfish?

We do not have any specific name for the baby fish. The slender baby inshore lizardfish are precious little creatures. With their pointed snout, they are adorable and it's hard to resist the urge to pet them!

What do they eat?

The inshore lizardfish diet is primarily shrimp trawls, squids, and octopuses, but unfortunately, it ends up as an inshore lizardfish meal itself in the jaws of spinner sharks.

Are they rare?

The inshore lizardfish are a common catch for anglers. Fishing off the coast of the Western Atlantic and Florida in marine waters, sand, or mud, you are bound to have an encounter with this fish!

Would they make a good pet?

Synodus foetens is not the most common type of fish to touch or pet.

Did you know...

The inshore lizardfish's cheery countenance is not what it seems! Its mouth contains a row of sharp and hard teeth, the dorsal fin has two points instead of one, and there is no anal fin to be seen. These are all features that set this fish apart from others in its family.  Unlike other fish, it has a row of light brown spots that run from its center to its tail fin.

Can you eat inshore lizardfish?

Yes, inshore lizardfish eating is enjoyed by numerous anglers as it is a rich diet and not poisonous in any way. The inshore lizardfish edible species tastes like salmon, but doesn't taste too fishy either!

Do inshore lizardfish have scales?

Yes, the inshore lizardfish has scales that usually serve two purposes: protection and to help improve swimming ability by reducing drag from water resistance.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish from our longhorn cowfish facts and milkfish facts page.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable inshore lizardfish coloring pages.