The lookdown dory can reach a size of about 55 cm length. It has a spiny dorsal fin. It is pale brown on the back with silver grey sides and grey fins. The large eyes are well above the jaw, hence “lookdown" is the common name.

Mature fish are found on the continental slope in 200-800m of water.

possibly a planktivore.

The juvenile fish is very different and was thought originally to be a different species. Fish less than 12 cm long have a very deep, narrow body with greatly elongated fin rays on the front portion of the dorsal fins and on the pelvic fins. The rays are longer that the fish and have a number of flattened leaf like appendages. These juveniles are found near the surface in coastal waters but as they grow and change to the adult form they move into deeper water.
Small numbers are trawled in Southern NZ but they are not extensively marketed.

Collins Guide to the Sea fishes of NZ: Ayling & Cox
Heemstra, P.C., 1986. Zeidae. p. 435-438. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.