Lookdown
Selene vomer
The lookdown is a silvery, flat-bodied fish with long, thin first rays on the back and anal fins. (Jeff Kubina/Flickr)
The lookdown is a silvery, flat-bodied fish that visits the lower to middle Chesapeake Bay in summer and autumn.
Appearance:
-
Thin, flattened, silvery body
-
Flattened head
-
Large mouth located low on the face
-
Long, thin first rays on the back and anal fins
-
Deeply forked tail and a small tail base
-
Juveniles have long, feathery fins on the back and belly
-
Can grow to a foot or longer, but rarely exceeds 2-3 pounds
Habitat:
-
Most often found in sandy areas near bridges and pilings
-
Usually lives in small schools close to the bottom
Range:
-
Visits the lower to middle Chesapeake Bay in summer and autumn
-
Occasionally ranges as far north as Calvert and Talbot counties in Maryland
Feeding:
-
Eats small worms, fish and crustaceans
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
-
Spawns by laying eggs into the water column
-
Little else is known about its reproductive cycle
Other Facts:
-
Gets its name from the way it appears to “look down” as it swims
-
A member of the jack family, which includes amberjacks and pompanos
Sources and Additional Information:
-
Fishes of Chesapeake Bay by Edward O. Murdy, Ray S. Birdsong and John A. Musick
-
Lookdown – Friends of Merrymeeting Bay
