Decapterus tabl

Osteichthyes Carangidae Genus Decapterus Decapterus tabl
Roughear scad DCT
Length unknown . Source: © B. Hutchins.
Characteristic features:
Colour:

Metallic blue to greenish above, silvery below; a small black blotch on upper edge of operculum; caudal fin bright red; tips of soft dorsal-fin rays reddish.

Size:

Up to 48 cm TL.

Distribution:

Indo-West and Pacific in tropical waters.

Habitat:

Pelagic, found throughout the water column from 10 to 550 m depth, but usually occurs in mid-water or near the bottom.

Biology:

Feeds primarily on small planktonic invertebrates, primarily copepods. Forms schools.

Indonesian fisheries:

Caught mainly with purse seines and trawls.

Similar species:

Decapterus kurroides
Redtail scad

Decapterus kurroides

Decapterus kurroides differs in having a larger eye (vs. smaller); straight part of lateral line with no scales (vs. scales 4–12) and second dorsal-fin soft rays 28–30 (vs. 30–34).

to Decapterus kurroides

Decapterus macarellus
Mackerel scad

Decapterus macarellus

Decapterus macarellus differs in having straight part of lateral line with 18–39 scales in (vs. 4–12 scales); oral valve (membrane) at symphysis of upper jaw conspicuously white in adults (vs. dusky or transparent) and rear margin of opercular membrane smooth (vs. slightly serrated).

to Decapterus macarellus

Decapterus macrosoma
Shortfin scad

Decapterus macrosoma

Decapterus macrosoma differs in having the posterior end of upper jaw concave above, rounded and produced below (vs. posterior end of upper jaw not as noticeably slanted anteroventrally); straight part of lateral line with 14–29 scales (vs. scales 4–12) and caudal fin hyaline to dusky (vs. bright red).

to Decapterus macrosoma

Decapterus russelli
Indian scad

Decapterus russelli

Decapterus russelli differs in having eye smaller (vs. larger); curved part of lateral line with 0–4 scutes (vs. no scutes); straight part of lateral line with 0–4 scales (vs. 4–12 scales) and caudal fin hyaline to dusky (vs. bright red).

to Decapterus russelli
External links:

FishBase
The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM