Japanese Butterfish

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Juveniles associate with drifting seaweed (Ref. 12114, 12115). Adults found in deeper water, at depths greater than 100 m (Ref. 559). Plankton feeder.

Juveniles associate with drifting seaweed (Ref. 12114, 12115). Adults found in deeper water, at depths greater than 100 m (Ref. 559). Plankton feeder (Ref. 12115).

fisheries: commercial

主要分布於西北太平洋區，包括日本中部及南部海域，以及台灣海峽。台灣發現於北部海域。

食用魚，但在台灣屬於罕見之種。

體延長而極側扁。頭大而吻鈍。眼中大。口裂中大；上頜末端延伸至眼中部之下方；下頜略短於上頜；齒細小，單列；無鋤骨齒及腭骨齒。背鰭基底長，具分離之硬棘VII-VIII，中部硬棘較長，軟條數22-26，前方軟條最長，向後而漸短；臀鰭基底較短，硬棘III，軟條18-21；具腹鰭，起點在胸鰭基底下方；胸鰭略呈鐮刀狀；尾鰭叉形。體一致為暗色；幼魚時，體側具暗蠕形斑。

主要棲息砂沙質海域，幼魚成群與漂游藻類一起漂流於表層，等長成成魚後就生活在100公尺以上的底層水域，以浮游性生物為食。

Known from seamounts and knolls