Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body short, very deep, extremely compressed; head sharply sloping, slightly concave below the eye; lower jaw protrudes; color silvery, fins yellowish, young with dark bar over eye and sometimes dark vertical bars; 2nd dorsal and anal fin lobes very elongate; 1st dorsal spines and pelvic fin rays long and filamentous in juveniles with filaments, spines and fins disappearing with age; posterior scutes weak; lateral line with strong moderately long anterior arch; no keels (ridges) on caudal peduncle. |
Similar Species |
Similar to moonfish but lookdown's body is deeper and 2nd dorsal and anal lobes very elongate. |
Habitat |
Gulf, juveniles may occur in bays, found over hard, sandy bottoms, often around pilings and piers |
Maximum Size |
48 cm (19 in), common to 35 cm (14 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
D. VIII+I,21-23; A. II+I,18-20 (explain) |
Other Common Names |
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Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
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State size/bag limits |
None; Check for state record. |