Decapterus macarellus
(Cuvier, 1833)
Mackerel scad

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Classification / Names

Teleostei (teleosts) > Carangiformes (Jacks) > Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos) > Caranginae
Etymology: Decapterus: Greek, deka = ten + Greek, pteron = wing, fin (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Cuvier.

Environment / milieu / depth range / climate zone / distribution range

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 0 - 400 m (Ref. 58302) usually 40 - 200 m (Ref. 3197); subtropical; 54°N - 46°S180°W - 180°E.

Distribution

Circumglobal. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada and Bermuda to approximately Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Ref. 57756). Appears to be absent from the Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 9626). Eastern Atlantic: St. Helena, Ascension, Cape Verde, and Gulf of Guinea (Ref. 7097); Azores and Madeira (Ref. 4233). Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Seychelles, Mascarenes, South Africa, and Sri Lanka (Ref. 3287). Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California and Revillagigedo Island to Ecuador (Ref. 9283).

Maps

Decapterus macarellus / Native range
AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

Decapterus macarellus / Suitable habitat
AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

Decapterus macarellus / Point map
AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

Decapterus macarellus / Year 2050
AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

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Size / Weight / Age

Max length: 46.0 cm TL male/unsexed (Ref. 55763); common length: 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed (Ref. 55763).

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 31 - 37; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 27 - 31; Vertebrae: 24. This species is distinguished by the following characters: oral valve (membrane) at symphysis of upper jaw conspicuously white in adults; posterior end of upper jaw straight above, moderately rounded and noticeably slanted anteroventrally; both jaws without teeth; shoulder girdle (cleithrum) margin with 2 small papillae, the lower papilla larger; terminal dorsal- and anal-fin rays each consisting of a widely detached finlet; pectoral fins short (58 to 72% of head length), tip of appressed fins falling considerably short of a vertical line from second dorsal-fin origin; lateral line scales, curved 58-75 and without scutes, straight 18-39 with 24-40 scutes, the total scales and scutes in lateral line (excluding scales on caudal fin) 110 to 138; interorbital scales usually extending to above front margin of the pupil. Colour in life bluish green and slivery below; small black blotch on margin of opercle near upper edge; caudal fin yellow-green and dorsal fin lobe sometimes dark distally; anal and pelvic fins pale to whitish (Ref. 9894, 11228).

Biology

Adults prefer clear oceanic waters, frequently around islands (Ref. 5217). Sometimes they are found near the surface, but generally caught between 40 and 200 m depth (Ref. 9283). Pelagic (Ref. 58302). Usually seen as fast moving schools along the reef edges near deep water (Ref. 48635, 26235). They feed mainly on zooplankton (Ref. 9283). Eggs are pelagic (Ref. 4233). Caught with purse seines and trawls (Ref. 9894). Marketed fresh and salted or dried (Ref. 9283).

Main reference

Smith-Vaniz, W.F. 1995 Carangidae. Jureles, pámpanos, cojinúas, zapateros, cocineros, casabes, macarelas, chicharros, jorobados, medregales, pez pilota. p. 940-986. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9283)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 125652)

  Least Concern (LC); date assessed: August 20 2012

CITES (Ref. 131153)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 26235)

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: usually.
FAO - Publication: search | FIRMS - Stock assessments | FishSource | Sea Around Us

More information
Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 123201): 13 - 27.9, mean 21.9 °C (based on 2100 cells).

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD50 = 0.501 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01202 (0.00782 - 0.01848), b=2.98 (2.85 - 3.11), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 4.0 ±0.2 se; Based on diet studies.

Generation time: 3.9 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 2 growth studies.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.8).

Prior r = 1.08, 95% CL = 0.71 - 1.62, Based on 3 data-limited stock assessments.

Fishing vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Low vulnerability (23 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Medium; Questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this genus.

Nutrients (Ref. 124155): Calcium = 472 [148, 1,769] mg/100g; Iron = 7.26 [2.38, 19.02] mg/100g; Protein = 21.3 [19.6, 23.0] %; Omega3 = 0.654 [0.270, 1.630] g/100g; Selenium = 84.1 [20.5, 289.9] μg/100g; VitaminA = 2.35 [0.40, 13.27] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.975 [0.518, 1.979] mg/100g (wet weight);