Japanese mackerel

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Japanese mackerel
Japanese mackerel (Scomber japonicus)

Japanese mackerel ( Scomber japonicus )

Systematics
Perch relatives (Percomorphaceae)
Order : Scombriformes
Family : Mackerel and tuna (Scombridae)
Subfamily : Scombrinae
Genre : Scomber
Type : Japanese mackerel
Scientific name
Scomber japonicus
Houttuyn , 1782

The Japanese mackerel ( Scomber japonicus , Syn . : Pneumatophorus japonicus ) is a species of mackerel and tuna with a similar economic importance as the common mackerel . The tuna mackerel ( Scomber colias ) used to be considered a subspecies of the Japanese mackerel as Pneumatophorus japonicus colias , but is now recognized as a species in its own right.

description

The Japanese mackerel has a torpedo-shaped body that is not as slim as that of the other Scomber species. It reaches a maximum length of 50 centimeters, but is usually only 30 centimeters long. The belly is more arched than the back. The first dorsal fin consists of nine to ten hard rays , of which the third is the longest ray. The first and second dorsal fins are clearly separated from each other and can be placed in a channel to reduce water resistance. The attachment of the anal fin is on the lower side of the body just behind that of the second dorsal fin. Both are concave . The former consists of a hard jet and 12 to 14 soft rays, the latter of 9 to 11 soft rays. The caudal fin is deeply forked and homocerk . Above and below between the dorsal or anal fin and the caudal fin are five flippers. The tapering pectoral fins are quite high up behind the gill covers. The pelvic fins, which start under the pectoral fins, are in the chest. The gill covers just end. The mouth is terminal and has many small teeth, the muzzle pointed. As with the other species of the genus Scomber , fat eyelids lie in front of the large eyes . The back is metallic blue and drawn well below the side line with dark, vertically arranged wavy lines. Flanks and belly are white. The body is covered with tiny scales. The Japanese mackerel has a total of 31 vertebrae and a swim bladder.

Distribution, habitat and biology

The Japanese mackerel is found in the warm and temperate zones of the Pacific and Indian Oceans . It is more likely to be found in the coastal areas, rarely also in the mesopelagial . Young fish are close to the coast.

This species of mackerel is a schooling fish that forms large, tight groups from a size of about three centimeters. Occasionally, it forms flocks in communion with the Scombriden Sarda chiliensis , the horse mackerel Trachurus symmetricus or herring-like Sardinops sagax . Some populations undertake seasonal migrations. The northern populations move to more southerly areas for wintering and back again in summer, the opposite is the case with the southern ones. During the day, adult specimens stay on the ground and swim in higher water layers at night.

Japanese mackerel feed on planktonic crustaceans such as copepods , but also on small fish and cephalopods. Their natural enemies include various predatory fish such as sharks and tuna , but also marine mammals and sea birds.

At the spawning business, Japanese mackerel release the eggs in several batches. In total, they can lay 100,000 to 400,000 eggs. Eggs and larvae are pelagic.

meaning

In commercial terms, this species of mackerel (especially in Japan ) is as important as common mackerel . It is fished commercially, grown in aquaculture in Japan and prepared in a wide variety of ways. It also plays a certain role in traditional Chinese medicine . It is not considered endangered.

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g Bruce B. Collette, Cornelia E. Nauen: Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalog of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date (= FAO Species Catalog. Vol. 2 = FAO Fisheries Synopsis. No. 125, Vol. 2). United Nations Development Program et al., Rome 1983, ISBN 92-5-101381-0 , ( complete edition ).
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Scomber japonicus on Fishbase.org (English)
  3. ^ Scomber japonicus on the FAO website

Web links

Commons : Scomber japonicus  - collection of images, videos and audio files