Yellowtail Scad, Trachurus novaezelandiae Richardson, 1843

Scientific name: Trachurus novaezelandiae
Alternative name/s:
Bung, Chow, McCulloch's Yellowtail, Scad, Southern Yellowtail Scad, Yakka, Yellowtail, Yellowtail Chow, Yellowtail Horse Mackerel, Yellowtail Mackerel
Yellowtail Scad Click to enlarge image
Yellowtail Scad at a depth of 7 m, Jervis Bay, New South Wales, March 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Trachurus
    Species
    novaezelandiae
    Family
    Carangidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 50 cm in length but is usually seen at about 30cm.

Introduction

The Yellowtail Scad can be recognised by its silvery colour, tinged with green or brown dorsally, and yellow tail. It is often caught from wharves by anglers.

Identification

The species is recognised by its silvery colour, tinged with green or brown dorsally, and yellow tail. It has a distinct dark spot on the rear margin of the operculum. It has enlarged scales, called scutes along the entire lateral line. The pectoral fin is sickle-shaped, or falcate, the caudal peduncle is very shallow and the tail is strongly forked.

Habitat

It lives in a range of habitats from the surface to 500 m.

Distribution

The Yellowtail Scad is a common schooling species of Australia's southern marine waters from Wide Bay, Queensland to north-west Cape, Western Australia.

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

Economic impacts

The Yellowtail Scad is often caught from wharves by anglers.

References

  1. Gomon, M.F. in Gomon, M.F, C.J.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.