(Family): Body strongly compressed, much elongated, flabby. Anus present about mid-body. Forehead not produced. (Genus): Body covered with deciduous cycloid scales. Body profile highly restricted behind anus. Body color silvery white with wide vertical bands. Dorsal fin origin above eye center. No pelvic and anal fins. Caudal fin present, although it is damaged in the specimen examined. Pectoral fin small. Mouth oblique. Height of upper jaw bones extremely high. A pair of canine teeth on both jaws, the lower one larger. A canine tooth on vomer. Palatine toothless. Monotypic genus.
Distribution:
Cosmopolitan.
Remarks:
In young fishes (less than 50〜70 mm), anterior rays of dorsal and ventral fins extraordinally elongate (Palmer, 1961). Although the pelvic fin is not seen in the present specimen, it is identified Z. cristatus, since the lack is seemed loss in growth. (Shimizu)