PORT PHILLIP BAY


Blue Mackerel 

Scomber australasicus Cuvier, 1832

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: X-XIII; 11-12; 5-6 finlets
Anal fin spines/rays: I, 10-11; 5-6 finlets
Caudal fin rays: 17
Pectoral fin rays: 20-21
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 5
Lateral line: about 160
Gill rakers: 35-40

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.
Powerful streamlined fishes with two dorsal fins that fold into grooves, deeply forked or lunate tails and a series of dorsal and anal finlets before the narrow tail base. They are fast-swimming open-water predators and are extremely commercially and recreationally important.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Perciformes
Family:
Scombridae
Genus:
Scomber
Species:
australasicus

General Description

Body fusiform, slender, slightly compressed, tapering to very narrow tail base with two small keels on each side; two widely separated dorsal fins, tail forked; pectoral and pelvic fins small. Iridescent green above with irregular dark markings especially below lateral line, silvery below; fins yellowish green. To more than 40 cm.

Biology

A common species of migratory and shoaling habit, occurring in large numbers off southern coasts.

Habitat

In coastal waters and the open sea.

Open water

Distribution guide

Known mainly from the central and western Pacific, including Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Mackerels and tunas

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

Midwater Surface

Max Size

40 cm

Diet

Carnivore

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, Blue Mackerel, Scomber australasicus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 13 Jan 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6456

Text: creative commons cc by licence