The Lookdown (Selene vomer) has an extremely deep and laterally compressed body with very small, embedded scales. The overall color is iridescent silvery to golden, with a metallic bluish tinge on the dorsal (top) surface. The dorsal ("back") and ventral ("belly") profiles are straight anteriorly (i.e., toward the front) and nearly parallel. The front profile of the head is very steep, with a mouth near the bottom. On each side of the body, the lateral line is arched upward anteriorly.

In adults, the pelvic fins (the anteriormost fins toward the underside of the fish) are very short. The first dorsal fin (on the fish's back) has eight spines, which are persistent. The second dorsal fin and the anal fin are long and falcate (sickle-shaped). The anal fin consists of two free spines followed by one spine and 17-20 rays, with the anterior rays elongated and forming an acute lobe. The two free anal spines are resorbed as the fish grows. Free anal fins are absent in individuals greater than 11 cm FL. ("Forklength" [FL] is the length from the tip of the snout to the end of the middle caudal [tail] fin rays; this length measure is used for fish species in which it is difficult to determine where the vertebral column ends and the tail fin begins, as is necessary for the more common "standard length" [SL].) Unlike adults, young fish have long pelvic fins and long streamerlike flaments extending from the first dorsal spines. In adults, the second dorsal and anal fins are greatly extended. This transition is complete by the time the fish reaches 10 to 12.5 cm. Juveniles also have a dusky, slightly oblique crossband and band over the eye. See McEachran and Fechhelm (2005) for a more detailed morphological description.

Lookdowns occur in shallow coastal waters over sand or mud in the western Atlantic from Maine to Uruguay, including Bermuda; in the northern and southern Gulf of Mexico; and in the Greater Antilles. They travel in schools and feed near the bottom on crustaceans and other fishes. Maximum known size is 40 cm FL.

(Boschung et al. 1983; Robins and Ray 1996; McEachran and Fechhelm 2005)

Found in shallow coastal waters, usually over hard or sandy bottoms. Juveniles may be encountered in estuarine areas (Ref. 9626) and off sandy beaches (Ref. 5217). Found in schools, but may be encountered in small groups or in pairs (Ref. 26235). Feeds on small crabs, shrimps, fishes, and worms. Flesh has excellent flavor (Ref. 5521). Marketed fresh (Ref. 9710).

Western Atlantic: from Maine to Florida, USA (possibly from Nova Scotia, Canada), along coasts of central and south America to Uruguay, including Bermuda and Gulf of Mexico. Rare in Greater Antilles

Warm waters on the east and west coasts of America, north rarely to Cape Cod, straying to the Gulf of Maine and to Nova Scotia; common from Chesapeake Bay southward.

Western Atlantic.

Western Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951) to Maine to Florida, USA (possibly from Nova Scotia, Canada), along coasts of central and south America (Ref. 26938) to Uruguay, including Bermuda and Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 9626). Rare in Greater Antilles (Ref. 26938).

Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, North West Atlantic

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 18

Maximum size: 483 mm TL

48.3 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 9626)); max. published weight: 2,100 g (Ref. 40637)

to 48.3 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. weight: 1,670.0 g.

Pelvic fin small.

Depth: 1 - 53m.
From 1 to 53 meters.

Habitat: demersal.

demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 53 m (Ref. 9710)

benthic

Found in shallow coastal waters, usually over hard or sandy bottoms.

Depth range based on 483 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 122 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0 - 320.5
  Temperature range (°C): 7.337 - 27.601
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.286 - 20.244
  Salinity (PPS): 32.507 - 36.424
  Oxygen (ml/l): 3.453 - 6.494
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.006 - 1.352
  Silicate (umol/l): 0.756 - 14.136

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0 - 320.5

Temperature range (°C): 7.337 - 27.601

Nitrate (umol/L): 0.286 - 20.244

Salinity (PPS): 32.507 - 36.424

Oxygen (ml/l): 3.453 - 6.494

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.006 - 1.352

Silicate (umol/l): 0.756 - 14.136
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Habitat Type: Marine

Demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 53 m. In shallow coastal waters, over hard or sand bottoms, often in schools but may be in small groups or in pairs. Juveniles can occur in estuaries and off sandy beaches.

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Found in shallow coastal waters, usually over hard or sandy bottoms. Juveniles may be encountered in estuarine areas (Ref. 9626) and off sandy beaches (Ref. 5217). Feeds on small crabs, shrimps, fishes, and worms and other benthic crustaceans (Ref. 26338).

Small crabs, shrimps, fishes, and polychaetes.

Pseudohurleytrema Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Spawns in the summer and has pelagic eggs.

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.


There are 8 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.


Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 9
Specimens with Barcodes: 25
Species With Barcodes: 1

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Not Evaluated

fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family