Synodus lobeli Waples & Randall, 1988
Lizardfishes tend to look much alike and few divers can correctly identify even 5 of the 9 different species occurring in Hawai`i. This situation was not helped by my fish book, which in the first 8 printings showed only 3 species and omitted the 2 most common ones! But that has been partially rectified: the 9th printing shows 5 Hawaiian species. Here's one, however, that's not in there. Smaller than most other Hawaiian lizardfishes, it attains only about 6 in. and lives over open sand far from reefs. Its habitat, small size and faint blue and yellow stripes are perhaps the best means of identifying it. However, the Snakefish (Trachynocephalus myops), another lizardfish with blue and yellow stripes occurs in the same habitat. The Snakefish attains twice the size of Lobel's Lizardfish and has eyes situated very high on the head because it often lies buried in sand. The Snakefish has been known to science for 200 years and even has a distinct Hawaiian name, whereas Lobel's Lizardfish was only described in 1988 and is rarely seen. The only other published Hawaiian sighting occurred at 105 ft. off Kona. The species name honors ichthylogist Philip S. Lobel who has worked extensively at Johnston Atoll. To about 6 in. Hawai`i and Japan. Photo: Kahe Point, O`ahu. 65 ft.