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Mexican lookdown (Selene orstedii) — Carangidae

Mexican lookdown

Selene orstedii
Family: Carangidae

The Mexican lookdown (Selene orstedii) is a fish of the family Carangidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Mexican lookdown is a jack (Carangidae) from coastal and estuarine water of the eastern Pacific around Central America. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a deep, strongly laterally compressed, mirror-silver body with a steep, flat forehead and a low-set mouth. As a fast, pelagic schooling fish it hunts small fish, shrimp and crustaceans in open water. It is locally a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Mexican lookdown?

The Mexican lookdown has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Mexican lookdown live?

The Mexican lookdown is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Mexican lookdown get?

The Mexican lookdown grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.

Is the Mexican lookdown dangerous to humans?

No, the Mexican lookdown is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Mexicaanse maanvis sourced
English name
Mexican lookdown sourced
Scientific name
Selene orstedii
Family
Carangidae

Appearance

Max length (cm)
30 inferred
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Selene

More from the family Carangidae

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