Sand Diver

Synodus intermedius

Also known as: Common Sand Diver, Filamented Sand Dragon, Intermediate Lizardfish, Sanddiver Lizardfish

ALSO KNOWN AS

Common Sand Diver
Filamented Sand Dragon
Intermediate Lizardfish
Sanddiver Lizardfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015

Add a photo

Sand Diver adult, photographed at Bonaire - Andrea 1, Caribbean Netherlands — @fishx6 · Bonaire - Andrea 1, Caribbean Netherlands · November 20101 / 20

Overview

Found singly or in pairs, half buried, or resting on boulders, sandy bottoms and in corridors, of patch reefs.

Lizardfish are experts at camouflage, they lie in wait for their prey lying on top of the sand or buried with just their heads showing. Their jaws have one or more lines of needle-like teeth.
They grab their victims with lightening speed often taking quite large prey.

How to identify

COLOURS

Pattern: blotches
Behaviour: ambush predator bottom dwelling buries in sand camouflaged head showing pairs solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

Habitat & where to find it

Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean
Exact location · 1
Country only · 19

LIVES IN

Found singly or in pairs, half buried, or resting on boulders, sandy bottoms and in corridors, of patch reefs.

RANGE

Adult photos 20

Discussion 3

3 comments

Carolyn· 29 Jun 2016
We saw two of these while diving today. One whizzed by me and really surprised me. It was pretty fast. Really neat!
Helpful· 1
Jenny· 9 May 2016
I had no clue what this fish was! I'm a spear fisher and diver, have nailed a few now and they cook up just as good as hogfish! Lots of meat, easy to clean. Bake at 450F x 25min whole and heavily seasoned with Blackening spice, belly down. After 20-25min the skin simply lifts off whole. Re-season, continue to bake another 10min and the fish will flake nicely. *PS: no information found to suggest this is a regulated or endangered species. They move slow when spearing, so easily caught.
Helpful· 1
remigijus· 5 Jan 2015
i catch the my first fish sand Dragon its about 8 inches long, the place is Naples Florida state i was using shrimp for the bait.
Helpful· 1