Zu cristatus, the scalloped ribbonfish, is a ribbonfish of the family Trachipteridae found circumglobally in all oceans at tropical latitudes, at depths down to 90 m. Its length is up to 118 cm, and the weight is around 4000 g. An adult specimen of Z. cristatus was captured at a depth of 720 m off the cost of Italy.[2] They are reported to eat squid, fish, and crustaceans.

Zu cristatus
Adult
Juvenile
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lampriformes
Family: Trachipteridae
Genus: Zu
Species:
Z. cristatus
Binomial name
Zu cristatus
(Bonelli, 1819)

In the past, the binomial name Trachypterus iris was misapplied to this fish.[3][4]

Identification

edit

Juveniles Z. cristatus under 70 cm in length have a silvery body with dark blotches, a scalloped belly margin and bulb-like structures on the long dorsal and pelvic fins[5].

 
Juvenile (top), adult (bottom)
 
Illustration of a scalloped ribbonfish.

References

edit
  1. ^ Arnold, R. (2015). "Zu cristatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T190346A21911500. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T190346A21911500.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ ResearchGate
  3. ^ King, Joseph E., and Isaac I Ikehara, "Some Unusual Fishes From the Central Pacific," Pacific Science, Volume X, January 1956 Retrieved September 1, 2018
  4. ^ fishbase.de Trachypterus iris (non Walbaum, 1792) Misapplied name for Zu cristatus (non Walbaum, 1792) Retrieved September 1, 2018
  5. ^ Scalloped Ribbonfish, Zu cristatus (Bonelli, 1820) - The Australian Museum