Zu cristatus, the scalloped ribbonfish, is a ribbonfish of the family Trachipteridae found circumglobally in all oceans at tropical latitudes, at depths down to 90 m. Its length is up to 118 cm, and the weight is around 4000 g. An adult specimen of Z. cristatus was captured at a depth of 720 m off the cost of Italy. They are reported to eat squid, fish, and crustaceans. In the past, the binomial name Trachypterus iris was misapplied to this fish.

Identification

Juveniles Z. cristatus under 70 cm in length have a silvery body with dark blotches, a scalloped belly margin and bulb-like structures on the long dorsal and pelvic fins.