Scomber japonicus Houttuyn, 1782

Chub mackerel

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Perciformes \| Scombridae \| Scombrinae
Synonyms	Pneumatophorus japonicus, Pneumatophorus japonicus japonicus, Scomber japonicus japonicus, ... more
Common names	Maquereau espagnol, Estornino, Smaach, ... more

You can sponsor this page

Upload your photos and videos
| All pictures | Google image | Stamps |

Image of Scomber japonicus (Chub mackerel)

Picture by Busse, K.

Add your observation in Fish Watcher

This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen. 1983. (Ref. 168)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Collette, Bruce B. | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 64.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9015); common length : 30.0 cm FL male/unsexed; (Ref. 168); max. published weight: 2,900 g (Ref. 26550); max. reported age: 18 years (Ref. 35185)

Environment

Pelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine; depth range 0 - 300 m (Ref. 168), usually 50 - 200 m (Ref. 35185)

Climate / Range

Subtropical; 10°C - 27°C (Ref. 35185); 60°N - 55°S, 180°W - 180°E

Indo-Pacific: anti-tropical, absent from the Indian Ocean except for South Africa, KZN to Western Cape (58304). Replaced by Scomber colias Gmelin 1789 in the Atlantic. Scomber australasicus is found in the Red Sea and the nothern Indian Ocean, its distribution overlaps with that of Scomber japonicus (Ref. 9684).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14; Vertebrae: 31. Interpelvic process small and single. No well developed corselet. Swim bladder present. First haemal spine posterior to first interneural process; 12 to 15 interneural bones under first dorsal fin. Anal fin spine conspicuous, clearly separated from anal rays but joined to them by a membrane. Back with narrow stripes which zigzag and undulate. Belly unmarked (Pacific population) or with wavy lines (Atlantic pop.) (Ref. 168). Caudal peduncle with 5 finlets on the upper and lower edge. Distance between dorsal fins shorter than or equal to the first dorsal fin base (Ref. 35388).

A coastal pelagic species, to a lesser extent epipelagic to mesopelagic over the continental slope (Ref. 168). Schooling by size is well developed and initiates at approximately 3 cm (Ref. 168); may also form schools with Sarda chiliensis, Trachurus symmetricus and Sardinops sagax (Ref. 9340). Adults stay near the bottom during the day; go up to the open water at night, (Ref. 5377) where they feed on copepods and other crustaceans, fishes and squids (Ref. 168). They spawn in batches (Ref. 51846). Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6769). In Asian waters, they move to deeper water and remain inactive during the winter season (Ref. 4576). Commercially cultured in Japan. Marketed fresh, frozen, smoked, salted and occasionally canned (Ref. 9684). Eaten fried, broiled and baked (Ref. 9988). Used in Chinese medicine (Ref. 12166).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Not Evaluated	Harmless

Human uses
Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: usually


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

Tools
Biogeographic modelling \| E-book \| Field guide \| Identification keys \| Length-frequency wizard \| Life-history tool \| Point map

Special reports
Check for Aquarium maintenance \| Check for Species Fact Sheets \| Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

Download XML
Summary page \| Point data \| Common names \| Photos

Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.12-0.22; tm=2-3; tmax=18)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Moderate to high vulnerability (46 of 100)	High

Entered by Luna, Susan M.

Modified by Froese, Rainer

Back to Search

Fish Forum

Comments & Corrections

Sign our Guest Book

FishBase mirror site : US - CGNET

Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

Custom Search