Sand lizardfish
📖 Overview
Common on sand or sand-rubble areas of lagoon and seaward reefs to over 20 m depth . Benthic . Feeds on shrimps and small fishes . Frequently buries in sand leaving only eyes and nostrils exposed . Generally solitary . Sometimes in pairs or small groups (Ref 90102).
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. Body brownish above, with 7 irregular blackish bars . Cheek usually not scaled to preopercular margin; membranous flap on anterior nostrils long and slender; pectoral fins not reaching a line connecting origins of dorsal and pelvic fins. : elongated; Cross section: circular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Sand lizardfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Generally solitary, but up to four males may have been observed courting a single larger female. A courting male may station itself atop a female and puff out its opercula and spread its fins in a display of aggression towards other males .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 91 m . Tropical; 30°N - 32°S north to Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe; including Micronesia (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
shrimps and small fishes (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | banded lizardfish · Bluestripe Lizardfish · Clearfin Lizardfish · Clearfin Lizardfish, Banded lizardfish · Grey-streak Lizardfish · Sand Lizardfish · Two-spot Lizardfish · Variegated Lizardfish |
| 🌍CES | ještěrohlavec hnědoskvrnný · ještěrohlavec skvrněný |
| 🇩🇪German | Sand-Eidechsenfisch |
| 🇫🇷French | Anoli Bigarré · Anoli bigarré, Poisson-lézard de sable · Poisson-lézard à ligne bleue · Poisson-lézard à nageoires jaunes · Poisson-lézard de Sable |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pesce lucertola della sabbia |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Minamiakaeso · ミナミアカエソ |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Zandhagedisvis |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Peixe-lagarto-de-linha-azul |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Ящероголов Фаулера |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Chile áspero |
| 🌍TAH | moo'anae |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 狗母 · 狗母梭 · 番狗母 · 革狗母 · 革狗母魚 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synodus amaranthus | Waples & Randall | 1989 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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