Reef lizardfish
Synodus variegstus
Special features
When they move around in pairs, it usually is one in the dark color version and one in the light one.
Appearance
These little guys have a cylindrical body, decorated with a side strip of alternating light and dark spots, with a pointed snout. You can easily recognize them by their mouth, which is oversized compared to her body size, with many visible pointed teeth.
Natural enemies
Predatory fish
Dangerous/Venomous
The Reef lizardfish is neither dangerous nor venomous.
Sketch
1. Pointed snout
2. Dark stripes
Pro tips
They are common where they roam, which is primarily in lagoons and outer reefs.
They are lurking predators: individually or in pairs, they lurk on debris, sand, or between corals, and when prey passes by, they push forward at lightning speed and swallow it whole.
Sometimes they climb up a few meters vertically to surprise and devour their prey from below.
Although they are lurking hunters, they change positions every few minutes.
They let considerate divers get quite close to them, flee quickly at the last moment and settle in lurking position a few meters away.
The different species are difficult to distinguish from each other underwater because they all look very similar.
Text: Carolina Leiter
Pic: Felician Hosp
Illustration: Dive Dict
