Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Zeiformes (Dories) >
Zeidae (Dories)
Etymology: Zenopsis: Particle zen, derived from zao = to give life + Greek, opsis = appearance.
Issue
The spelling conchifera is considered as the correct one by some authors. To be verified.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 50 - 600 m (Ref. 4968), usually 150 - 300 m (Ref. 36731). Deep-water, preferred 23°C (Ref. 107945); 58°N - 28°S
Atlantic Western Indian Ocean: Somalia (Ref. 30573) and India to South Africa, but not in the Red Sea. Eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay to South Africa. Western Atlantic: Sable Island, Canada to northern North Carolina, USA (Ref. 7251) to northern Argentina (Ref. 27363). Reported from the Mediterranean (Ref. 93173). Reported from Indonesia (Ref. 5978) but not in the Pacific Ocean.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 80.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4253); common length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5217); max. published weight: 3.2 kg (Ref. 7251)
Short description
Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal
spines
(total): 9 - 10;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 24-26;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 24 - 26. Body silvery, with a dusky mid lateral spot just posterior to and slightly above end of pectoral fin (Ref. 4253). Fin membranes of spinous dorsal, pectoral, pelvic and caudal fins blackish (Ref. 27363).
Frequently encountered in coastal waters (Ref. 27000). Occurs near the bottom or in midwater, over muddy substrates (Ref. 5377). Mesopelagic (Ref. 5951). Found in small schools (Ref. 4968). Feeds on fishes (Ref. 5213) and squids (Ref. 5951). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 27363.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Karrer, C. and A. Post, 1990. Zeidae. p. 631-633. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 6953)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5781 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00891 (0.00609 - 0.01304), b=2.92 (2.82 - 3.02), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 4.5 ±0.0 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming tm>4).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): High vulnerability (61 of 100) .