Shortfin lizardfish
📖 Overview
Inhabits muddy bottoms of the continental shelf down to about 60 m. Feeds on small bottom-dwelling invertebrates and fishes.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Body elongate, cylindrical. Back and upper sides brown, lower sides and belly white. Nine to 10 faint blotches along the lateral line, sometimes with traces of very indistinct cross-bars on the back. Upper edges of pectoral and caudal fins occasionally with faint black dots. The upper portion of the inner side of the pectoral fins dark.: elongated; Cross section: circular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Shortfin lizardfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Shortfin lizardfish is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Reproduction data for Shortfin lizardfish is currently being compiled.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; depth range 20 - 260 m . Tropical West Pacific: Andaman and South China seas south to the Arafura Sea (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
small bottom-dwelling invertebrates and fishes
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Shortfin lizardfish is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Detailed nutritional data for Shortfin lizardfish is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Shortfin lizardfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Shortfin Lizardfish |
| 🌍CES | ještěrohlavec hnědohřbetý |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Kosodeso · コソデエソ |
| 🌍TGL | Tuko |
| 🌍THA | ปลาปากคมหูสั้น |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 10 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Shortfin lizardfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.