ANIMAL SPECIES:Finny Scad, Megalaspis cordyla (Linnaeus, 1758)
The Finny Scad is a streamlined, countershaded fish which resembles other fishes in the Family Carangidae (trevallies, scads etc). The Finny Scad can be recognised by the long pectoral fin, by the prominent scutes (51-59) on the straight part of the lateral line on the side of the body, by the large black spot on the top of the operculum (gill cover) by the dorsal (7-9) and anal (8-10) finlets, and by the adipose (fatty) eyelid which covers the pupil except a narrow vertical slit over the pupil.
Identification
The Finny Scad is a streamlined, countershaded fish which resembles other fishes in the Family Carangidae (trevallies, scads etc).
The Finny Scad can be recognised by the long pectoral fin, by the prominent scutes (51-59) on the straight part of the lateral line on the side of the body, by the large black spot on the top of the operculum (gill cover) by the dorsal (7-9) and anal (8-10) finlets, and by the adipose (fatty) eyelid which covers the pupil except a narrow vertical slit over the pupil.
Size range
It grows to 80 cm in length.Distribution
The Finny Scad has a wide distribution in the Indo-Pacific.
Classification
- Species:
- cordyla
- Genus:
- Megalaspis
- Family:
- Carangidae
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Edition 2. Crawford House Publishing. Pp. 557.
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