California Lizardfish, Synodus lucioceps

California Lizardfish, Synodus lucioceps. Fish caught from coastal waters of San Diego, California, September 2011. Length: 15 cm (5.9 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Eli (obsessiveangling.wordpress.com).

California Lizardfish, Synodus lucioceps. Fish caught from a tidal pool within Bahía Santa Rosalillita, Baja California, August 2019. Catch and photograph courtesy of Barry Mastro, Escondido, California.

California Lizardfish, Synodus lucioceps. Fish caught off a pier at Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos, Baja California Sur, April 2016. Length: 26 cm (10 inches).

California Lizardfish, Synodus lucioceps. Fish caught from coastal waters of Gonzaga Bay, Baja California, April 2018. Length: 39 cm (15 inches). Catch and photograph courtesy of Ben Cantrell, San Diego, California.

California Lizardfish, Synodus lucioceps. Fish caught from coastal waters off San Diego, California, July 2019. Length: 39 cm (15 inches). Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Josh Leisen (joshadventures.com), Gaylord, Michigan.

The California Lizardfish, Synodus lucioceps, is a member of the Lizardfish or Synodontidae Family, and is known in Mexico as chile lucio and pescado de culebra. Globally, there are thirty-seven species in the genus Synodus, of which eleven are found in Mexican waters, six in the Atlantic and five in the Pacific Ocean.

The California Lizardfish has an elongated tubular robust body with a depth that is 11% to 15% of standard length. They are brown color overall, which is cream and gray dorsally and abruptly pale ventrally. They have a subtle row of approximately 8 irregular dark blotches along their mid-flank. Their gill membranes and pelvic fins are yellowish; their adipose fin, caudal fin, and pectoral fins are dark; and their anal and dorsal fins are transparent with dark rays. Their head is wide and medium-sized being 22% to 24% of standard length and with a long pointed snout, large eyes, and a slightly oblique mouth. Their mouth is large and extends well past the eyes; it opens at the front and is equipped with many rows of fine pointed teeth. Their adipose fin is small and above the anal fin; their anal fin has 11 to 14 rays and has a long base that is equal in length to their dorsal fin base; their caudal fin is forked; their dorsal fin has 11 to 13 rays and is mid-body originating closer to the adipose fin than the snout tip; and, their pelvic fins are large with 8 rays are found behind their pectoral fins. Their fins are spineless. They have a straight lateral line.

The California Lizardfish is a demersal species that is found on the bottom within and over sandy and muddy bottoms at depths between 2 m (6.5 feet) and 229 m (750 feet). They reach a maximum of 64 cm (2 feet 1 inch) in length and are the largest lizardfish found in Mexican waters. They are voracious ambush predators feeding primarily on small fish, krill, squid, and shrimp. They in turn are preyed on by sea lions. The California Lizardfish is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.

The California Lizardfish is a resident of Mexican waters of the Pacific Ocean but has a limited distribution being found only along the entire west coast of Baja and throughout the Sea of Cortez.

The California Lizardfish can be confused with the Iguana Lizardfish, Synodus sechurae (short pectoral fins, white spots along the lateral line), and the Lance Lizardfish, Synodus scituliceps (short head, uniform body coloration).

From a conservation perspective the California Lizardfish is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations.  They are more abundant than most species but are seldom caught because their small mouths require small hooks for success. They are small in stature and of limited interest to most and a “catch-and-release.”