Pacific sierra (Scomberomorus sierra)

Scientific name: Scomberomorus sierra Jordan & Starks, 1895

Pacific sierra (Scomberomorus sierra)

The Pacific sierra (Scomberomorus sierra) is a marine fish of the family Scombridae.

Biology

A schooling species believed to spawn close to the coast over most of its range. Occurs near the surface of coastal waters to over bottom of the continental shelf. Adults feed on small fishes, particularly anchovies (Anchoa and Cetengraulis) and clupeids (Odontognathus and Opisthonema). The most abundant game fish along the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central America. It is an excellent food fish enough to support a commercial fishery. Marketed fresh and frozen; also used for ceviche.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Scomberomorus sierra
Family
Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
99.0
Common length
60.0
Depth range
0–12 m (0–39 ft)
Environment
Marine; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 12 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Eastern Central Pacific: La Jolla in southern California, USA to the Galapagos Islands and Paita, Peru. Recently reported from Antofagasta, Chile. Many authors have erroneously considered this species to be a synonym of Scomberomorus maculatus, or a subspecies of it.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming 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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