Species: Synodus lucioceps, California lizardfish

Synodus lucioceps (Ayres, 1855)

California lizardfish

Body relatively robust; head relatively wide (width 50-70% of its length) snout long, pointed; eye moderate; lower jaw not ending in a fleshy knob; mouth large, slightly oblique, at front; many rows fine pointed teeth on jaws, tongue and (in 1 band) on side of roof of mouth; gill membrane under operculum with 15-18 rays; fins without spines; one dorsal fin in midbody, 11-13, with a small skin-flap fin behind it above anal fin, dorsal fin origin ~ midway between adipose fin and snout tip; anal fin 11-14 rays, its base long, equal to base of dorsal fin; pectorals long, extend past base of pelvic fin; pelvics on abdomen behind pectoral base, with 8 rays, inner rays distinctly longer than outer rays; scales smooth; lateral-line scales 63-67, 7 scale rows between lateral line and base of dorsal fin; bases of rays of tail fin completely scaleless; lateral line straight, along entire body