Red lizardfish
Synodus synodus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Description:
Body elongated, yellowish brown to tan, with four prominent reddish bands across the back. May have bluish highlights on the back and a tiny black spot just behind the tip of the snout. Can pale or darken or change bar pattern to blend with the background. Occasionally, bars on back lighten and become indistinct while the midline area darkens to form a prominent stripe.
Size up to 33 cm.
Habitat:
Primarily found in shallow waters, down to 90 m. Rest on hard surfaces rather than on sand.
Distribution:
Occasional Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.
Remarks:
The sand diver and Red lizardfish (Synodus synodus) are easily confused. Positive identification needs ray counts:
S. intermedius: with 10-12 anal soft rays;
S. synodus: with 8-10 anal soft rays.
The Bluestriped lizardfish (Synodes saurus) is rare in the area and have thin blue to turquoise stripes down the upper body.