Scomberomorus guttatus

Osteichthyes Scombridae Genus Scomberomorus Scomberomorus guttatus
Indo-Pacific king mackerel GUT
52.3 cm TL
Characteristic features:
Colour:

Bluish black to silvery with 3–4 irregular rows of small dark spots on sides, spinous dorsal fin black.

Size:

Up to 80 cm TL and up to at least 6.7 kg in weight.1

Distribution:

Found in tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific.

View FAO distribution map

Habitat:

Inshore pelagic. Found in shallow coastal waters and also entering estuarine systems, where this species can tolerate high turbidity and low salinity. Found at depths between 15–200 m.

Biology:

Feeds primarily on small schooling fishes such as anchovy and sardine, but also on squids and crustaceans. Usually forms small schools. Some populations undertake long shore-side migrations, while others remain as permanent residents. In waters off India, individuals reach first maturity at 40 cm TL, corresponding to an age of 20 months.2 Length where 50% of females become mature is 37.5 cm.3 Estimated maximum age at least 16 years.4

Indonesian fisheries:

Caught with drift gill nets, midwater trawls, bamboo steak nets, purse seines and by trolling.

Similar species:

Acanthocybium solandri
Wahoo

Acanthocybium solandri

Acanthocybium solandri differs in having a snout long as rest of head (vs. snout much shorter than rest of head); a double emarginate caudal fin (vs. deeply forked) and no gill rakers on first gill arch (vs. 8–13 on upper and lower lobes of gill arch).

to Acanthocybium solandri

Scomberomorus commerson
Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel

Scomberomorus commerson

Scomberomorus commerson differs in having a single lateral line with no auxillary branches (vs. small auxillary branches anteriorly); lateral line dropping down rapidly behind the second dorsal fin (vs. mostly straight until level with second dorsal fin then gradually curving down to mid body); many narrow wavy, dark vertical bars (vs. 3–4 irregular rows of small dark spots on sides) and 0–2 gill rakers on upper limb and 1–8 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch (1–8 total) (vs. 1–2 on upper limb and 7–12 on lower limb (8–14 total)).

to Scomberomorus commerson
External links:

FishBase
IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM

References:
  1. Ahmed Q, Khan D, Yousuf F. Length-weight relationship in adult Scomberomorus guttatus (Bloch. & Schneider, 1801) from Karachi coast, Pakistan. International Journal of Biological Research. 2014;2(2):101–7.
  2. Devaraj M. Maturity, spawning and fecundity of the spotted seer, Scomberomorus guttatus, in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay. Indian Journal of Fisheries. 1987;34(1):48–77.
  3. Krishnamoorthy B. Observations on the spawning season and the fisheries of the spotted seer Scomberomorus guttatus (Bloch & Schneider). Indian Journal of Fisheries. 1958;5(6):270–81.
  4. Devaraj M. The biology of and fishery for the seerfish of India. Madurai University; 1977. p. 357.