Author: (Bonelli, 1820)
Zu cristatus (Bonelli, 1820)
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Zu cristatus (Bonelli, 1819) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: body rather elongate, ventral profile scalloped and sharply constricted dorso-ventrally behind anus. Mouth small, protrusible, subvertical; strong caniniform teeth in both jaws and on vomer and palatines. Dorsal fin long, with 120-150 finrays, the first few rays elongate; no anal fin; pectoral and pelvic fins present at all stages; caudal fin in two distinct parts. Scales cycloid, deciduous; lateral line wavy on tail; no sharp-tipped tubercles along midventral profile. Colour: silvery with 6 or 7 incomplete dark wavy vertical precaudal bands; further vertical bands on caudal region where they become entire; caudal fin dark brown or black. Size: to at least 1 m SL.
Habitat: epi- and mesopelagic. Food: small fishes and squids. Reproduction: eggs and larvae of all stages taken in Mediterranean on numerous occasions.
Distribution: eastern North Atlantic, off Madeira and the Azores, also Mediterranean. Elsewhere, South Atlantic and throughout Indo Pacific.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. Sanzo, 1918: 1 | d'Ancona, 1933: 272, fig. | Palmer, 1961: 347.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.