Scomber australasicus Cuvier, 1832
Blue mackerel
photo by Gloerfelt-Tarp, T.

Family:  Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos), subfamily: Scombrinae
Max. size:  44 cm FL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,360.0 g
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 87 - 200 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Persian Gulf; from Japan, south to Australia and New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: Hawaii and off Mexico (Socorro Island).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-12; Vertebrae: 31. No well developed corselet but body covered with rather small scales. Palatine narrow. Anal fin origin clearly more posterior than that of second dorsal fin. Anal fin spine independent from anal fin. Swim bladder present. Snout pointed. Interpelvic process small and single. Back with narrow oblique lines which zigzag and undulate; the belly is pearly white and marked with thin, wavy broken lines.
Biology:  Occurs in coastal waters (Ref. 9340) and also in oceanic waters (Ref. 9563). Minimum depth reported at 87 m (Ref. 58489); fishing depths to 265 m (cited in Ref. 58302). Schooling by size which may include jack mackerels and Pacific sardines. They are plankton feeders filtering copepods and other crustaceans, but adults also feed on small fish and squids. Also caught with encircling nets (Ref. 9340). Marketed fresh, dried-salted, smoked, canned and frozen (Ref. 9987).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 August 2022 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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