Animal Species:Blue Mackerel, Scomber australasicus Cuvier, 1832

It is a schooling pelagic species that occurs in tropical and temperate marine waters of the Pacific.

Blue Mackerel at Coffs Harbour

Blue Mackerel at Coffs Harbour
Ian Shaw © Ian Shaw

Identification

The Blue Mackerel has a fusiform body with two widely separated dorsal fins. Both the second dorsal fin and anal fin are followed by five to six finlets. The eyes have adipose eyelids that leave a vertical slit over the pupils.

The species is bluish to greenish above and pale below. It has dark bars on the upper sides and spots below. Young fish have a dark pattern of reticulations on the upper sides that become less distinct as the fish ages.

Size range

The species grows to 65 cm in length.

Distribution

In Australia it is known from marine waters around the entire country but is more common in cooler waters.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Scomber australasicus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Blue Mackerel specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
australasicus
Genus:
Scomber
Family:
Scombridae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Gomon, M.F. & E.M. Robertson. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992. Pp. 528.
  2. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.


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Tags fish, ichthyology, blue mackerel, Scomber australasicus, pelagic, Scombridae, blue, green, silver, black, skinny, 30 cm - 1 m, dots/spots, marine, adult,