Barred Yellowtail Scad, Atule mate

Scientific name: Atule mate
Alternative name/s:
Northern Yellowtail Scad, Yellowtail Scad
Barred Yellowtail Scad, Atule mate Click to enlarge image
Barred Yellowtail Scad have adipose tissue over the eye. The adipose eyelid of this fish has been stained with alcian blue. The fish was bought from an Asian market in Arizona. Image: Anthony Gill
© Anthony Gill

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Atule
    Species
    mate
    Family
    Carangidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    30 cm

Introduction

The Barred Yellowtail Scad is a relatively slender carangid fish with a dark spot on the margin of the operculum.

Identification

With the exception of a narrow vertical slit, the entire eye and much of the surrounding region of the head is covered by adipose tissue. The dorsal and caudal fins are dusky greenish yellow.

Barred Yellowtail Scad, Atule mate
Barred Yellowtail Scad have adipose tissue over the eye. The adipose eyelid of this fish has been stained with alcian blue. The fish was bought from an Asian market in Arizona. Image: Anthony Gill
© Anthony Gill

Distribution

It has an Indo-Pacific distribution. In Australia it is known from tropical marine waters of Western Australian, the Northern Territory and Queensland.

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

References

  1. 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
  2. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.