Trophic Strategy
provided by Fishbase
Feeds on plankton as well as on benthic invertebrates like crabs and mollusks (Ref. 12223, 4773).
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Relatively common on the continental shelf and upper slope, probably schools near the bottom. Depth range from 50-500 m (Ref. 35388) and from 288-700 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). Feeds on bottom-living polychaetes, mollusks and crustaceans, also on pelagic invertebrates and fishes. Spawns from winter to spring in the Mediterranean and from March to July off the British coasts. Its eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 4773). They become sexually mature at a length of 12-13cm. With a smell like cucumber (Ref. 35388).
Importance
provided by Fishbase
fisheries: minor commercial; price category: high; price reliability: questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this genus