Okieso (English spelling) lizard fish

This marine fish belongs to the order Myctophiiformes of the class Osteichthyes and family Lizardfish. It can reach a total length of 37 centimeters and is a coastal fish found widely in warm seas around the world, living on sandy, muddy or rocky seabeds from shallow waters to depths of up to 400 meters. It has 3 to 4 blue vertical bands on the sides of its body. It has a large mouth and the inner fin rays of its pelvic fin are longer than the outer fin rays. Its snout is shorter than the diameter of its eyes, and its eyes are located on the back near the tip of its head. Its anal fin has many rays, 15 to 16. More than 20,000 tons are caught annually and used as an ingredient in fish paste products.

[Ueno Teruya]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

硬骨魚綱ハダカイワシ目エソ科に属する海水魚。全長37センチメートルに達し、世界中の暖海に広く分布する沿岸性の魚で、浅海から400メートルほどの深さの砂、泥、岩質の海底に生息する。体側に3～4条の青色縦帯がある。口が大きく、腹びれの内側鰭条(きじょう)は外側鰭条よりも長い。吻(ふん)が眼径より短く、目は頭部の先端近くの背面にある。臀(しり)びれの鰭条数が多く、15～16本。1年間に2万トン以上も漁獲され、練り製品の材料にされる。

［上野輝彌］

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