Atlantic Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) fish species and information / pictures of Atlantic Spanish mackerel - Scomberomorus maculatus

Atlantic Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Scomberomorus maculatus

Common Name
Atlantic Spanish mackerel

Biology
Migrates in large schools over great distances along the shore. Larvae are found in surface waters between 19.6? and 29.8?C with salinities of 28.3 to 37.4 ppt. Feeds mainly on small fishes (clupeoids and anchovies), few quantities of penaeoid shrimps and cephalopods. Casting, live-bait fishing, jigging, and drift fishing are also employed in capturing this species. Aerial spotting is sometimes used in locating the fish. Marketed fresh, frozen or smoked; eaten pan-fried, broiled and baked.

Classification

Classified By

Mitchill, 1815

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Mackerels, tunas, bonitos (Scombridae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951) to Cape Cod to Miami (USA) and Gulf of Mexico coasts from Florida, USA to Yucatan, Mexico. Three species namely: Scomberomorus tritor in eastern Atlantic, Scomberomorus sierra in eastern Pacific, and Scomberomorus brasiliensis in the Caribbean and Atlantic coast of South America have often been confused with this species. Absent in the Bahamas (Ref. 26938).

Range

44°N - 19°N, 97°W - 64°W

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

20 °C

Water Temperature To

30 °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

35 m

Zone

pelagic-neritic

Environment

Marine; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 10 - 35 m (Ref. 26912)

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.74 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

91.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (39 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.2-0.38; tm=2-3; Fec=280,000)

Threat To Humans

  Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 31172)

IUCN Red List Status

  Not Evaluated