Atlantic chub mackerel

Tuna mackerel ( Scomber colias )

The tuna mackerel ( Scomber colias ), also Mediterranean or bladder mackerel, is a species of mackerel, which is found in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas.

Previously, she was placed in the genus Pneumatophorus that are no longer in use today ( the species so designated are now placed in the genus Scomber ). In addition, she was often listed as a subspecies of the Japanese mackerel as Pneumatophorus japonicus colias. This resulted in different synonyms like Pneumatophorus colias, Pneumatophorus colias japonicus and Scomber japonicus colias.

Features

The tuna mackerel is smaller overall than the ordinary mackerel, usually it does not exceed a length of 35 centimeters. The eyes are larger than that of Scomber scombrus, the same is true for breast shed. Characteristic is the body markings. While the blue metal back is to clearly drawn under the sidelines with dark Wellenlienien, the bright flanks and belly with irregularly shaped, gray-blue patches are covered. The body is torpedo-shaped and slim. The first dorsal fin consists of 8 hard jets. The second dorsal fin and the anal fin are concave, the two approaches are about one over the other. The caudal fin is deeply forked and homocerk. Top and bottom are both a 5 Flössel between caudal fin and anal - or second dorsal fin. The pelvic fins are breast constantly. The pectoral fins, which are far above behind the gill covers running to a point. In the terminal mouth are many small teeth. It also has a swimming bladder. Before the eyes are so-called fat songs.

Distribution, habitat and biology

The tuna mackerel inhabits the temperate, tropical and subtropical coasts on both sides of the Atlantic. In the east it comes from the Bay of Biscay to the Cape of Good Hope, to the west by the east coast of the United States to the mouth of the Rio de la Plata. They also can be found in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, as well as in the Atlantic before many islands. Occasionally it is also found in brackish water. It is a pelagic schooling fish. To their food range includes various planktonic organisms such as copepods.

Importance

The tuna mackerel is not as economically important as Scomber scombrus. In the Mediterranean it is often offered at similar levels as the mackerel in Madeira it is one of the most commercially important fish.

Swell