Atlantic saury (Scomberesox saurus saurus)

Scientific name: Scomberesox saurus saurus Walbaum, 1792

Atlantic saury (Scomberesox saurus saurus)

The Atlantic saury (Scomberesox saurus saurus) is a marine fish of the family Esocidae.

Biology

Oceanic, schooling and gregarious. Occasionally shoals close to shore in large numbers. Feeds on zooplankton and fish larvae; food also includes fish eggs and small fishes. Preyed upon by fish, including tunas, marlin bluefish and cod; also pollock, dolphins and porpoises. It is an under-exploited fish in many parts of its range and suitable for canning and other inexpensive uses. Often leap of the water when chased by enemies.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Scomberesox saurus saurus
Family
Esocidae (Pikes)
Order
Esociformes (Pikes and Mudminnows)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
50.0
Common length
32.0
Depth range
0–30 m (0–98 ft)
Environment
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 30 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Arctic. North Atlantic. Eastern Atlantic: Iceland, Norway and Denmark (rarely), along British Isles into Baltic Sea and throughout the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Aegean seas to Morocco. Western Atlantic: Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada to North Carolina, USA and Bermuda. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; bait: occasionally
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assusming tm=2-4)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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