Atlantic chub mackerel

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Atlantic chub mackerel
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Atlantic chub mackerel
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scombriformes
Family: Scombridae
Genus: Scomber
Species:
S. colias
Binomial name
Scomber colias
Gmelin, 1789
Synonyms
  • Pneumatophorus colias (Gmelin, 1789)
  • Pneumatophorus japonicus marplatensis López, 1955
  • Scomber capensis Cuvier, 1832
  • Scomber dekayi Storer, 1855
  • Scomber gigas Fowler, 1935
  • Scomber gracilis Swainson, 1839
  • Scomber grex Mitchill, 1814
  • Scomber japonicus (non Houttuyn, 1782)
  • Scomber macrophthalmus Rafinesque, 1810
  • Scomber maculatus Couch, 1832
  • Scomber pneumatophorus Delaroche, 1809
  • Scomber scomber lacertus Walbaum, 1792
  • Scomber japonicus colias (Gmelin, 1789)
  • Scomber undulatus Swainson, 1839

Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias), also known as Tinker mackerel, [2] is a pelagic schooling species of mackerel found in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. It was originally thought to be a subspecies of the chub mackerel Scomber japonicus colias .

Contents

Description

The Atlantic chub mackerel is a long, streamlined fish with a deeply forked tail, is all covered with very small fish scale. The first dorsal fin has 9 or 10 spines and is separated from the second dorsal fin by a space at least as long as its base. The origin of the anal fin is directly below or just behind the origin of the second dorsal fin. This fish is silvery in colour, the upper surface has oblique zigzagging lines while the belly is paler and spotted or marked with wavy lines. [3]

Ecology

Atlantic chub mackerel is an important pelagic forage species. [2]

Fisheries

Atlantic chub mackerel bought at Roman fish market Scomber colias.jpg
Atlantic chub mackerel bought at Roman fish market

This fish is particularly abundant in the eastern Mediterranean. Two variants are distinguished: in the late summer and autumn, the fish is fat and roe-filled, whereas in the late winter and spring it is very lean, almost emaciated. The Greek names for the two forms are koliós and tsíros, respectively. They are usually roasted, although the former form is often packed in salt for later consumption. The fish releases its own oil into the salt packing and acquires a very long shelf life. In the islands of the Aegean, it is a particularly popular delicacy, under the name goúna: fresh-caught mackerel is split open at the belly, eviscerated, and left to dry flesh-side up in the sun for one day. The same evening it is very briefly seared over a fire and then served with lemon juice.[ citation needed ]

Along the eastern seaboard of North America Atlantic chub mackerel were not the target of directed commercial fisheries until 2013 when commercial trawlers began targeting them because of a lack of squid. Landings went from almost zero to 5m pounds within the year. [2]

Status

This fish has a wide range and is abundant over parts of that range. Although it is heavily fished in places, the population seems relatively stable and the IUCN has listed this species as Least Concern. [1]

Related Research Articles

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Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of pelagic fish, mostly from the family Scombridae. They are found in both temperate and tropical seas, mostly living along the coast or offshore in the oceanic environment.

Cavalla may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albacore</span> Species of tuna

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic mackerel</span> Species of fish

The Atlantic mackerel, also known as Boston mackerel, Norwegian mackerel, Scottish mackerel or just mackerel, is a species of mackerel found in the temperate waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, and the northern Atlantic Ocean, where it is extremely common and occurs in huge shoals in the epipelagic zone down to about 200 m (660 ft). It spends the warmer months close to shore and near the ocean surface, appearing along the coast in spring and departing with the arrival of colder weather in the fall and winter months. During the fall and winter, it migrates out into deeper and more southern water, seeking warmer temperatures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellowfin tuna</span> Species of fish

The yellowfin tuna is a species of tuna found in pelagic waters of tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic horse mackerel</span> Species of fish

The Atlantic horse mackerel, also known as the European horse mackerel or common scad, is a species of jack mackerel in the family Carangidae, which includes the jacks, pompanos and trevallies. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean off Europe and Africa and into the south-eastern Indian Ocean. It is an important species in commercial fisheries and is listed as a Vulnerable species on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garfish</span> Species of fish

The garfish, also known as the garpike or sea needle, is a pelagic, oceanodromous needlefish found in brackish and marine waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Black, and Baltic Seas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chub mackerel</span> Species of fish

The chub mackerel, Pacific mackerel, or Pacific chub mackerel is a species of fish in the tuna and mackerel family, Scombridae. This species of mackerel closely resembles the Atlantic chub mackerel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crevalle jack</span> Species of fish

The crevalle jack, also known as the common jack, black-tailed trevally, couvalli jack, black cavalli, jack crevale, or yellow cavalli is a common species of large marine fish classified within the jack family, Carangidae. The crevalle jack is distributed across the tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean, ranging from Nova Scotia, Canada to Uruguay in the western Atlantic and Portugal to Angola in the eastern Atlantic, including the Mediterranean Sea. It is distinguishable from similar species by its deep body, fin colouration and a host of more detailed anatomical features, including fin ray and lateral line scale counts. It is one of the largest fish in the genus Caranx, growing to a maximum known length of 124 cm and a weight of 32 kg, although is rare at lengths greater than 60 cm. The crevalle jack inhabits both inshore and offshore waters to depths of around 350 m, predominantly over reefs, bays, lagoons and occasionally estuaries. Young fish dispersed north by currents in the eastern Atlantic are known to migrate back to more tropical waters before the onset of winter; however, if the fish fail to migrate, mass mortalities occur as the temperature falls below the species' tolerance.

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The blue mackerel, also called Japanese mackerel, Pacific mackerel, slimy mackerel or spotted chub mackerel, is a fish of the family Scombridae. It typically reaches 30 cm (12 in) in length and 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) in weight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little tunny</span> Species of fish

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<i>Scomber</i> Genus of fishes

Scomber is a genus of fish in the family Scombridae living in the open ocean found in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. The genus Scomber and the genus Rastrelliger comprise the tribe Scombrini, known as the "true mackerels". These fishes have an elongated body, highly streamlined, muscular and agile. The eyes are large, the head is elongated, with a big mouth provided with teeth. They have two dorsal triangular fins, with some stabilizing fins along the caudal peduncle. The basic color is blue-green with a silvery white belly and a darker back, usually black mottled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vadigo</span> Species of fish

The vadigo, Campogramma glaycos, is a species of medium-sized coastal marine fish in the jack family, Carangidae. The species is distributed throughout the eastern Atlantic Ocean from the British Isles in the north to Senegal in the south, also entering the western Mediterranean Sea. The vadigo is similar in form to both the leatherjacks and the queenfish, but can be distinguished by its scaleless chest and a broad, rounded upper jaw. It is a predatory fish, preying mostly on smaller schooling fishes. The species was initially classified under the genus Centronotus before being transferred to its own monotypic genus of Campogramma. The vadigo is of minor commercial importance throughout its range, and is also considered to be a game fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">False scad</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torpedo scad</span> Species of fish

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References

  1. 1 2 Collette, B.; Amorim, A.F.; Boustany, A.; Carpenter, K.E.; de Oliveira Leite Jr.; N.; Di Natale, A.; Fox, W.; Fredou, F.L.; Graves, J.; Viera Hazin, F.H.; Juan Jorda, M.; Kada, O.; Minte Vera, C.; Miyabe, N.; Nelson, R.; Oxenford, H.; Teixeira Lessa, R.P.; Pires Ferreira Travassos, P.E. (2011). "Scomber colias". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011: e.T170357A6767497. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170357A6767497.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Robins, Rick (29 April 2019). "Time to Protect Our Bullet Tunas". sportfishingmag.com. Sport Fishing Mag. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  3. "Species fact sheets: Scomber japonicus (Houttuyn, 1782)". FAO. Retrieved 2013-12-27.