PORT PHILLIP BAY


Tailor 

Pomatomus saltatrix

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: VII-VIII; I, 23-28
Anal fin spines/rays: III; I, 23-27
Caudal fin rays: 17
Pectoral fin rays: 16-17
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 5
Lateral line: 90-100
Gill rakers: 3 + 10-13

Interpreting fin count meristics.
Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Detailed descriptions of fin count and other meristics are in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
A large and highly diverse group of modern bony fishes many of which have a generalized perch like body form. Most have pelvic fins with one spine and 5 rays and the maxillary bone is excluded from the gape of the mouth. Interrelationships of the group are poorly understood and continue to be studied. They inhabit almost all aquatic habitats from high-altitude strams to the deep sea, although most are marine.

Family level detail.
Large coastal fishes with a robust, moderately elongate, compressed body; head and mouth large, both jaws with single row of prominent, compressed sharp teeth, the lower also with inner series of small depressible teeth; 2 dorsal fins, the first short and low, connected to the long-based second dorsal fin by a membrane; tail moderately forked; body scales small, extending onto 2nd dorsal and anal fins. Family with a single species.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Perciformes
Family:
Pomatomidae
Genus:
Pomatomus
Species:
saltatrix

General Description

Dark blue green above, paler on side, silvery to white below; iris yellow. Usually 40 cm long head to tail tip. To 1.2 m.

Biology

A fast-swimming voracious feeder, preying on small schooling fishes such as anchovies, herring and mullet. It spawns in open seas and is seasonally migratory, occurring in Victorian waters during summer months. It is highly prized by recreational anglers and excellent eating. The name "Tailor" comes from the habit of cutting fishing nets with its scissor-like teeth.

Habitat

Primarily pelagic in the open ocean, coming inshore close to beaches and into bays in search of food, in depths of 1-15 m.

Open water

Distribution guide

Widespread in subtropical and temperate coastal waters, seasonally present in Victoria.

Species Group

Fishes › Tailors

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

Midwater

Max Size

1.2 m

Commercial Species

Yes

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Tailor, Pomatomus saltatrix, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6446

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