The color of the crocodile fish varies from grayish green to brown in the dorsal area, being yellow or white in the ventral area. They also have brown spots on the dorsal area. They receive the name 'alligator fish' or 'crocodile fish' for their elongated body and strong jaws equipped with teeth (they have two rows of teeth in the upper jaw), as well as for their habit of letting themselves float along the surface of the water. . The swim bladder acts like a lung. The mouth is short and wide and its body is covered by a thick layer of ganoid, rhombus-shaped scales.