Fish Identification Photos: Iguana Lizardfish, Synodus sechurae: The Iguana Lizardfish is fairly easy to identify. It has an elongated body with a mottled brown coloration on the upper half, a white belly, and a row of white spots on the back.

The head of the Iguana Lizardfish has small eyes, a moderately long snout (that is not sharply pointed), and a large mouth that reaches well past the eyes.

The Iguana Lizardfish's dorsal fin is inserted 56 percent of the distance between the anterior edge of the eyes and the adipose fin origin. The pectoral fins reach the pelvic fin origin. There is no fleshy knob at the end of the chin.

The Iguana Lizardfish reaches 12 inches in length at maturity.

The Iguana Lizardfish has a similar appearance and can be confused with the Short Head Lizardfish, Synodus scituliceps (fleshy knob at end of chin).

Iguana Lizardfish is found in the first 300 feet of the water column over sandy and muddy bottoms. In Mexico, it is found from Magdalena Bay south along the Pacific side of Baja California, throughout the Sea of Cortez, and along the coast of the Mexican mainland south to Guatemala. It is absent from around Mexico's oceanic islands.

The Iguana Lizardfish is a member of the Synodontidae or Lizardfish Family known in Mexico as Chiles.

Iguana Lizardfish, Synodus sechurae: A very rare catch made with Capt. Pata in the panga Salomé, in 300-foot deep, 70-degree water, utilizing a Sabiki rig, 10 miles north of La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in February 2007. Size approximately 10 inches. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.