| Family: |
Gempylidae (Snake mackerels) |
| Max. size: |
200 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 6,000.0 g; max. reported age: 10 years |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 550 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Southwest Atlantic: Uruguay, Argentina and Tierra del Fuego. Eastern Atlantic: Tristan da Cunha and South Africa. Western Indian Ocean: South Africa and the St. Paul and Amsterdam islands. Eastern Indian Ocean: Tasmania and southern coast of Australia. Southwest Pacific: New Zealand and southern coast of Australia. Southeast Pacific: southern Peru, Chile, and Tierra del Fuego. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 19-21; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 10-12; Vertebrae: 35-35. Body elongate and strongly compressed. Lateral line single, running close to the upper contour of the body below most of the first dorsal-fin base then abruptly curving ventrally. Body is dark blue, slightly paler on belly; first dorsal fin membrane black (Ref. 6181). |
| Biology: |
Inhabit continental shelves or around islands. Feed on pelagic crustaceans (Euphausia, Nyctiphanes), cephalopods and fishes (Ref. 6181) like anchovy and pilchard (Ref. 36731). Form schools near the bottom or midwater; sometimes even at the surface at night (Ref. 6181). Prefers temperature between 13° and 18°C (Ref. 36731). Marketed fresh, smoked, canned and frozen; eaten fried, broiled, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988). Good for fish and chips or smoking; also made into fillet or fish cake in Japan (Ref. 6181). Commonly called as Baracoutta and because it is a fast predator, several English vessels were named after it. In the UK during WW II, this canned fish was commonly eaten that many older people have an aversion to it (D. Parkyn, pers. comm. 05/2022). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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