Mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus)

General data

Main name: Mackerel scad
Local names: Kingston
Climates: Tropical, Subtropical
Habitat: Saltwater
Native: Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Australia & Oceania
Distribution: Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red sea

Classification

Mackerel Scad (Decapterus macarellus), also known as speedo, is a widespread marine fish belonging to the Carangidae family. Although it can be targeted as a light gamefish, it is more commonly used as bait. It is also an important food fish in regions such as Hawaiʻi (ʻopelu), the Philippines (galunggong), and the United Arab Emirates.

Description

The mackerel scad has an elongated, streamlined body that appears almost circular when viewed head-on. It can reach a maximum length of about 46 cm. A key identifying feature is a small detached fin located between the dorsal and caudal fins.

Its coloration includes metallic blue-green to dark fins and a silvery-white belly. A small black spot on the edge of the operculum is present, while the lateral line has no spots. The caudal fin varies in color from reddish to yellow-green.

Fin structure:

- Dorsal fin: 9 spines and 31–36 soft rays
- Anal fin: 7 spines and 27–30 soft rays

Distribution and Habitat

The mackerel scad is a globally distributed species, found in tropical and subtropical waters across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

In the Atlantic Ocean, it occurs from Nova Scotia and Bermuda to Brazil, as well as around islands such as Cape Verde, the Azores, and Madeira. In the Indian Ocean, it is found in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, East Africa, Seychelles, Mascarenes, and Sri Lanka. In the Pacific Ocean, it ranges from the Gulf of California and Revillagigedo Islands to Ecuador and throughout many central Pacific islands.

The species is also recorded in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions.

Mackerel scad inhabit clear offshore waters, often around islands. They occur from the surface down to about 400 m, but are most commonly found between 40 and 200 m. They form large schools and feed mainly on zooplankton.

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
- Actinistia - Lobe-finned fishes->
- Actinopteri - Ray-finned fishes->
  - Perciformes - Perches->
  - Cypriniformes - Carps->
  - Esociformes - Pikes->
  - Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts->
  - Siluriformes - Catfishes->
  - Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes->
  - Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks->
  - Gadiformes - Cods->
  - Anguilliformes - Eels and morays->
  - Clupeiformes - Herrings->
  - Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses->
  - Gobiiformes - Gobies->
  - Mugiliformes - Mullets->
  - Carangiformes - Jacks->
    
    Carangidae - Jacks->
    
    Seriola - Amberjacks->
    
    Trachurus - Horse mackerels->
    
    Trachinotus - Pompanos->
    
    Lichia - Leerfishes->
    
    Caranx - Trevally->
    
    Gnathanodon - Golden trevally->
    
    Megalaspis - Torpedo scad->
    
    Carangoides - Carangoides->
    
    Selene - Selene->
    
    Elagatis - Rainbow runners->
    
    Chloroscombrus - Chloroscombrus->
    
    Oligoplites - Oligoplites->
    
    Alectis - Alectis->
    
    Alepes - Alepes->
    
    Atropus - Atropus->
    
    Atule - Atule->
    
    Campogramma - Campogramma->
    
    Decapterus - Decapterus->
    
    Scad (Decapterus akaadsi)
    
    Koheru (Decapterus koheru)
    
    Redtail scad (Decapterus kurroides)
    
    Mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus)
    
    Shortfin scad (Decapterus macrosoma)
    
    Japanese scad (Decapterus maruadsi)
    
    Amberstripe scad (Decapterus muroadsi)
    
    Round scad (Decapterus punctatus)
    
    Indian scad (Decapterus russelli)
    
    Decapterus smithvanizi (Decapterus smithvanizi)
    
    Roughear scad (Decapterus tabl)
    
    Ferdauia - Ferdauia->
    
    Hemicaranx - Hemicaranx->
    
    Naucrates - Naucrates->
    
    Pantolabus - Pantolabus->
    
    Parastromateus - Parastromateus->
    
    Parona - Parona->
    
    Pseudocaranx - Pseudocaranx->
    
    Scomberoides - Scomberoides->
    
    Selar - Selar->
    
    Selaroides - Selaroides->
    
    Seriolina - Seriolina->
    
    Ulua - Ulua->
    
    Uraspis - Uraspis->
    
    Coryphaenidae - Dolphinfishes->
    
    Xiphiidae - Swordfishes->
    
    Istiophoridae - Marlins->
    
    Nematistiidae - Roosterfish->
    
    Rachycentridae - Cobia->
    
    Echeneidae - Remoras->
    
    Menidae - Moonfish->
  - Beloniformes - Needlefishes->
  - Labriformes - Wrasses->
  - Scombriformes - Mackerels->
  - Mulliformes - Goatfishes->
  - Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes->
  - Aulopiformes - Grinners->
  - Blenniiformes - Blennies->
  - Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps->
  - Osmeriformes - Smelts->
  - Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes->
  - Cichliformes - Cichlids->
  - Characiformes - Characins->
  - Osteoglossiformes - Bony tongues->
  - Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders->
  - Anabantiformes - Gouramies and snakeheads->
  - Gymnotiformes - South American knifefish->
  - Istiophoriformes - Barracudas->
  - Albuliformes - Bonefishes->
  - Lepidogalaxiiformes - Salamanderfishes->
  - Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes->
  - Spariformes - Breams and porgies->
  - Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes->
  - Moroniformes - Temperate basses->
  - Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes->
  - Zeiformes - Dories->
  - Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes->
  - Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes->
  - Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards->
  - Lampriformes - Lamprids->
  - Galaxiiformes - Southern smelts->
  - Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes->
  - Hiodontiformes - Mooneyes->
  - Percopsiformes - Trout-perches->
  - Callionymiformes - Dragonets->
  - Atheriniformes - Silversides->
  - Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels->
  - Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers->
  - Alepocephaliformes - Slickheads and tubeshoulders->
  - Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes->
  - Argentiniformes - Marine smelts->
  - Stomiiformes - Lightfishes and dragonfishes->
  - Ateleopodiformes - Jellynose fishes->
  - Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes->
  - Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes->
  - Polymixiiformes - Beardfishes->
  - Beryciformes - Sawbellies->
  - Trachichthyiformes - Rughies->
  - Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels->
  - Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes->
  - Synbranchiformes - Swamp eels->
  - Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes->
  - Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses->
- Cladistii - Bichirs->
- Dipnoi - Lungfishes->
- Chondrostei - Sturgeons and Paddlefishes->
- Holostei - Gars and Bowfins->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->

Mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus)

General data

Classification

Taxonomy of Fishes

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