Body length up to 62 cm, usually up to 50 cm; body weight - up to 2 kg. The body is elongated, somewhat compressed laterally. The mouth is large, but smaller than that of an ordinary zander . The upper jaw does not extend beyond the vertical of the posterior margin of the eye. The jaws have fang-shaped teeth. Two dorsal fins . In the first - 12 hard rays, and in the second - 2 hard and 12-18 soft rays. In individuals from the Caspian populations, the dorsal fins are separated by a small gap, while in the Black Sea, they are in contact. In the anal fin there are 2 hard and 15-18 soft rays. The lateral line reaches the caudal fin and enters it [3] [4] .
It differs from ordinary zander in a smaller eye diameter, lack of scales on the cheeks, fewer soft rays in the anal fin.
The body is painted in light gray. 12-13 transverse dark stripes pass along the sides. Dark spots are expressed on the second dorsal and caudal fins.
Distributed in the Caspian Sea and in the northwestern part of the Black Sea [3] .
Sea fish in the Caspian Sea avoid desalinated areas, and in the Black Sea they are common in the Dnieper-Bug estuary and estuaries.
Predators Adults feed mainly on fish.
They reach puberty at the age of 2-5 years. Spawn in April and May. Fertility is 83-126 thousand eggs. Caviar is laid on rocky soils. Males guard eggs [3] [4] .
The species is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine [4] .
