Double-lined mackerel

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Double-lined mackerel
Grbil u0.gif
Drawing of Grammatorcynus bilineatus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scombriformes
Family: Scombridae
Genus: Grammatorcynus
Species:
G. bilineatus
Binomial name
Grammatorcynus bilineatus
(Rüppell, 1836)
Synonyms
  • Thynnus bilineatusRüppell, 1836
  • Nesogrammus piersoni Evermann and Seale, 1907

The double-lined mackerel (Grammatorcynus bilineatus), is a species of Spanish mackerel (tribe Scomberomorini) in the family Scombridae. [2] [3] This species is sometimes also called the scad mackerel (not be confused with the mackerel scad in the Carangidae family). [2]

Contents

Description

The double-lined mackerel has an elongated and slightly compressed body covered with small scales, with a relatively small mouth and large eyes. Like other Scombridaes, it lacks a swim bladder. The body color is dark blue on the back, silvery on the sides, silvery white on the belly. They have 11-13 dorsal spines, 10-14 dorsal soft rays and 10-14 anal soft rays on their fins. The pectoral fins are rather short. There are two lateral lines, one on the dorsal profile, and the other at the height of the pectoral fins. [4] [5] [6] This is unique among fish, as most only have one on each side of the body.

Juvenile with a spotted pattern Grammatorcynus bilineatus juvenile (USNM-408939).jpg
Juvenile with a spotted pattern

Grammatorcynus bilineatus can reach a maximum length of about 100 centimetres (39 in), with a common length of about 50 centimetres (20 in) and maximum weight of about 3.5 kilograms (7.7 lb). [7] [8]


This species is often confused with its sister species Grammatorcynus bicarinatus, the shark mackerel. [1] They can be differentiated as the double-lined lacks spots on its belly, is generally smaller, and the eyes are larger. [6]

Range

Double-lined mackerel are present in the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to the Andaman Sea, also from the northern coast of Australia to the Ryukyu Islands, as far as Fiji

Biology and ecology

Recently caught specimen from Tuvalu Grammatorcynus bilineatus Tuvalu.jpg
Recently caught specimen from Tuvalu

These subtropical reef-associated and pelagic fishes usually inhabit open water, but they are mostly found in shallow waters at depths of 15–50 m (49–164 ft). [4]

Grammatorcynus bilineatus mainly feed on crustaceans and fishes, especially Clupeiformes ( Sardinella and Thryssa species), but also other fishes such as triggerfishes ( Balistes ) and small barracudas ( Sphyraena ). It usually forms large schools. [4] [6]

Catch statistics by year Fisheries capture of Grammatorcynus bilineatus.png
Catch statistics by year

Fisheries

The double-lined mackerel is a commercial fish, usually marketed canned and frozen.

It is of minor importance to commercial fisheries. [4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Collette, B.; Chiang, W.; Di Natale, A.; Fox, W.; Juan Jorda, M. & Nelson, R. (2011). "Grammatorcynus bilineatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011: e.T170358A6768577. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170358A6768577.en . Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Grammatorcynus bicarinatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  3. WoRMS
  4. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Grammatorcynus bilineatus". FishBase . October 2005 version.
  5. Collete, B.B. 1986. - Scombridae. - In P.J.P. White head, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen, and E. Tortonese (eds.), Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranea. Vol II, pp. 981-997. UNESCO, Paris
  6. 1 2 3 "Grammatorcynus bilineatus". fishesofaustralia.net.au. Archived from the original on 2025-04-19. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  7. Collette, B.B., 2001. - Scombridae. Tunas (also, albacore, bonitos, mackerels, seerfishes, and wahoo). - FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.)
  8. Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen, 1983. - Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date - FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2.

Bibliography