|
Name: |
Blue Mackerel (Scomber australasicus) |
Family: |
Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos) , subfamily: Scombrinae |
Order: |
Perciformes (perch-likes) |
Class: |
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) |
Alternative Name: |
Blue mackerel |
Max size: |
44.0 cm FL (male/unsexed; Ref. 40637); max. published weight: 1,360 g (Ref. 40637) |
Environment: |
Pelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine ; depth range - 200 m |
Climate: |
Subtropical; 42°N - 50°S |
Importance: |
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: usually |
Resilience: |
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.28) |
Distribution: |
Western Pacific: China and Japan to Australia and New Zealand, east to the Hawaiian Islands but relatively rare in tropical waters. Eastern Pacific: Socorro and Revillagigedo islands, Mexico (Ref. 9340). Population from the Red Sea and northern Indian Ocean (Gulfs of Aden and Oman) is Scomber australasicus and not japonicus (Ref. 27328). |
Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 10-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 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. |