diamond lizardfish
Synodus synodus
Shallow-water and reef lizardfish, with reddish bands on the back, mainly caught with artisanal gear.
Also called: peixe-lagarto-diamante, guaripete, lagarto rojizo, diamond lizardfish
- maximum
- 43 cm
- depth
- 2–35 m
who is the diamond lizardfish
Fish of the family Synodontidae, with an elongated body, reaching 43 cm. It lives mainly in shallow, coastal waters, 2 to 35 m, but also appears on reefs and the shelf, down to 90 m. It usually rests on hard surfaces rather than sand. It occurs in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and the coasts of Brazil and Uruguay. It is caught with various artisanal gear. For anglers, it is a reef fish of low sport value.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the diamond lizardfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated body with prominent reddish bands across the back. Like other lizardfish of the family Synodontidae, it has a wide mouth with pointed teeth and a lizard-like look. It lives in shallow waters and reefs, resting on hard surfaces, which helps tell it apart from Saurida brasiliensis, which lives deeper, usually between 50 and 194 m.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
In Latin America it occurs on the coasts of Brazil and Uruguay, in the Guianas, the Caribbean and Mexico, in shallow waters and reefs.
Habitat: Shallow coastal waters and reefs, usually 2 to 35 m, on hard bottoms, and on the shelf down to 90 m.
coast
rules for the diamond lizardfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
No danger to anglers. Since its mouth is full of pointed teeth, hold it firmly when removing the hook.
in the kitchen
Reportedly good to eat, but little used.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00513, b = 3.18; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
—
sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Synodus synodus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Synodus synodusNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
