California lizard fish (Synodus lucioceps) is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from the Bay Area south to Mexico. This elongated fish grows to about 24 or slightly more inches. The mouth is large and the tail is forked. This fish can bury itself in the sand with only the eyes showing. The teeth are needle like. There is a very nice drawing on page 181 of the Fishes of the Pacific Coast by Gar Goodson.

Lizard fish (Family Snynodontidae) remind one of reptiles. These fish can crawl along the bottom with their pectoral fins. However, when a prey is spotted they can propel themselves with amazing speed with their tails to swallow their prey whole. There are probably about 40 worldwide species known. Most of these are less than 12 inches in length, however, one can reach 18 inches.

The lizard and lancet fish order (Myctophiformes or sometimes called Aulopiformes if you exclude the Myctophide and Neoscopelidae families) contains several families that are generally found in marine waters. The familes include:
Alepisauridae - Lancetfish
Anotopteridae - Daggertooths
Aulopidae - Like Liazrd Fish
Bathysauridae - Deep Sea Lizardfish
Chlorophthalmidae - Greeneyes
Evenmannellidae - Sabertooth Fish
Giganturidae - Telescopefish
Harpadontidae - Bombay Ducks
Ipnopidae - Includes tripod fish and relatives
Myctophidae - Lantern Fish
Neoscopelidae - Lantern Fish Allies
Paralepididae - Barracudinas
Scopelarchidae - Pearleyes
Synodontidae - Lizardfish


Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are found in both fresh and marine waters.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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