Mackerel
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- Mackerel See also: Jacks
- Mackerels, Atka See: Greenlings
- Mackerels and tunas (Family Scombridae), Including: Mackerels (Scomber species, Scomberomorus species, Auxis species); Spanish mackerels, cero, and sierra (Scomberomorus species); King mackerel or kingfish (Scomberomorus cavalla); Bonitos (Sarda species); Wahoo (Acanthocybius solanderi); tunas (Thunnus species, Euthynnus species); Skipjack tunas (Euthynnus or Katsuwonus species); Albacore (thunnus alalunga) But not including: Snake mackerels.
Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of fish, mostly, but not exclusively, from the family Scombridae. They occur in all tropical and temperate seas. Most live offshore in the oceanic environment but a few, like the Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus), enter bays and can be caught near bridges and piers. The largest species called "mackerel" is the king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) which can grow to 66 inches (168 cm). Common features of mackerels are a slim, cylindrical shape (as opposed to the tunas which are deeper bodied) and numerous finlets on the dorsal and ventral sides behind the dorsal and anal fins. The scales are extremely small, if present. They are prized for their meat, often very oily (and are highly harvested) and fighting ability, and are an important recreational and commercial fishery. The meat can spoil quickly, especially in the tropics, causing scombroid food poisoning - it must be eaten on the day of capture, unless cured. For this reason, mackerel is the only fish traditionally sold on a Sunday in London, and is the only common salt-cured sushi.
Species whose common name includes "mackerel"
Family Scombridae
* Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus
* Atlantic Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus maculatus
* Blue mackerel Scomber australasicus
* Broadbarred king mackerel Scomberomorus semifasciatus
* Chub mackerel Scomber japonicus
* Australian spotted mackerel Scomberomorus munroi
* Double-lined mackerel Grammatorcynus bilineatus
* Indian mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta
* Indo-Pacific king mackerel Scomberomorus guttatus
* Island mackerel Rastrelliger faughni
* Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius
* King mackerel Scomberomorus cavalla
* Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus macula
* Streaked Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus lineolatus
* Spotted Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus guttus
Family Trachuridae
* Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus
* Blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus
* Cape horse mackerel Trachurus capensis
* Cunene horse mackerel Trachurus trecae
* Greenback horse mackerel Trachurus declivis
* Japanese horse mackerel Trachurus japonicus
* Mediterranean horse mackerel Trachurus mediterraneus
* Jack mackerel Trachurus symmetricus
Family Hexagrammidae
* Okhostk Atka mackerel Pleurogrammus azonus
* Atka mackerel Pleurogrammus monopterygius
Family Gempylidae
* Black snake mackerel Nealotus tripes
* Blacksail snake mackerel Thyrsitoides marleyi
* Snake mackerel Gempylus serpens
* Violet snake mackerel Nesiarchus nasutus
* White snake mackerel Thyrsitops lepidopoides |
