Scomberoides tol


Needleskin queenfish OBJ
Characteristic features:
Colour:

Blue grey dorsally grading to white below; 5–8 dark oval blotches on sides in single series, the first 4 intersecting with lateral line; rear half of dorsal-fin lobe becoming dark.

Size:

Up to 51 cm TL.

Distribution:

Indo–West Pacific in tropical waters.

Habitat:

Surface coastal waters to 50 m depth.

Biology:

Adults feed primarily on fishes while juveniles feed on the scales and skin tissues of other fish using specialised teeth. Occurs in small schools. The first spine on the second dorsal- and anal fins are venomous.

Indonesian fisheries:

Caught by drift set nets, gill nets and seines.

Similar species:

Scomberoides commersonnianus
Talang queenfish

Scomberoides commersonnianus

Scomberoides commersonnianus differ in having an upper jaw reaching well beyond posterior margin of eye (vs. upper jaw not extending to posterior margin of eye) and dorsal fin uniformly dusky (vs. rear dorsal-fin lobe turning abruptly black).

Scomberoides lysan
Doublespotted queenfish

Scomberoides lysan

Scomberoides lysan differs in having an upper jaw reaching level with or just beyond posterior margin of eye (vs. upper jaw not extending to posterior margin of eye) and 2 series of 6–8 dark blotches on sides (vs. a single series of 5–8 dark blotches on sides).

Scomberoides tala
Barred queenfish

Scomberoides tala

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

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