Scomberoides tala


Barred queenfish OBT
Characteristic features:
Colour:

Grey-green dorsally grading into grey to silver below; a single series of vertically oblong dark blotches intersecting lateral line; dorsal-fin lobe uniformly dusky.

Size:

Up to 70 cm TL.

Distribution:

Indo–West Pacific in tropical waters.

Habitat:

Inshore coastal waters to 100 m depth.

Biology:

Feeds primarily on small fishes. Usually seen swimming solitarily in surface waters. Little else is know regarding the biology and ecology of this species. The first spine on the second dorsal- and anal fins are venomous.

Indonesian fisheries:

Caught by drift set nets, gill nets, seines and hook-and-line.

Similar species:

Scomberoides commersonnianus
Talang queenfish

Scomberoides commersonnianus

Scomberoides commersonnianus differs in having 4–8 dark blotches on side round in shape, first 2 may intersect lateral line (vs. a single series of vertically oblong dark blotches intersecting lateral line) and upper jaw extending well beyond posterior margin of eye (vs. upper jaw often extending slightly beyond posterior margin of eye).

Scomberoides lysan
Doublespotted queenfish

Scomberoides lysan

Scomberoides lysan differs in having 2 series of 6–8 dark blotches on sides (vs. a single series of vertically oblong dark blotches intersecting lateral line) and dorsal-fin lobe turning abruptly blackish distally (vs. uniformly dusky).

Scomberoides tol
Needleskin queenfish

Scomberoides tol

Scomberoides tol differs in having an upper jaw not extending to posterior margin of eye (vs. upper jaw often extending slightly beyond posterior margin of eye) and a dorsal-fin lobe turning abruptly black distally (vs. uniformly dusky).

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