What do butter fish look like?

Characteristics:

* Body: Elongated, oval, and deep and laterally flattened, with a slightly arched back and a blunt snout.

* Size: Typically 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) in length, but can reach up to 18 inches (46 cm)

* Color: Silvery-white or yellowish-brown with a greenish or bluish cast on the back and sides. The fins are transparent or pale yellow, and the tail fin has a dark margin.

* Other markings: A prominent black spot just above the pectoral fin and a series of smaller black spots along the lateral line.

* Habitat: Coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, from Nova Scotia to Florida, and in the Gulf of Mexico. They are also found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.

* Diet: Feeds on small fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates.

* Behavior: Butterfish are schooling fish that are often found in large numbers near the surface of the water. They are relatively slow-moving and are not considered to be particularly strong swimmers.

* Reproduction: Spawns in the spring and summer months, releasing their eggs into the water column. The eggs are incubated for about 36 hours before they hatch. The larvae feed on plankton until they are about 2 inches (5 cm) in length, at which point they begin to feed on small fish and invertebrates.

* Lifespan: Butterfish have a relatively short lifespan of about 3 years.