Mackerel pike

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The division of living beings into systematics is a continuous subject of research. Different systematic classifications exist side by side and one after the other. The taxon treated here has become obsolete due to new research or is not part of the group systematics presented in the German-language Wikipedia.

Mackerel pike or false pike (Scomberesocidae Müller , 1843) are bony fish and were traditionally considered a family from the order of the garfish-like (Beloniformes). The scientific name Scomberesocidae is derived from the Greek skombros = mackerel / tuna and the Latin esox = pike . The family contained four species. Mackerel pike first appeared as fossils in the Upper Tertiary , in the Miocene .

features

Pacific jackfish ( Cololabis saira )

Mackerel fish are deep sea fish and are native to tropical and warm waters. They form swarms that stay near the surface of the water and jump high out of the water in case of danger. In early summer they spawn in the open sea. Their diet consists mainly of free-swimming crustaceans and smaller fish. The jaws of mackerel bake are beak-shaped, from slightly elongated lower jaws to long, narrow beaks, depending on the type. However, the mouth openings of the jackfish are relatively small and the jaws only weakly dentate. Similar to mackerel or tuna, other characteristics are the rows of small fins behind the dorsal and anal fin. An unusual feature of this family of fish is that they do not have swim bladders . Adult mackerel pike grow up to 46 cm long. They are fished commercially as food fish and are particularly popular in Japanese cuisine . There they are also used as sushi fish (Sanma). The Atlantic jackfish ( Scomberesox saurus ) is widespread throughout the North Atlantic and occurs as far as the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean Sea. The spawning zones are also located in the southern parts of this distribution area. With the seasonal warming of the Atlantic, the fish migrate north to Nova Scotia , Iceland and Norway and occasionally appear in the North Sea .

Mackerel pike are used as bait in the New Zealand tuna fishery.

Systematics

Traditionally, the mackerel pike were viewed as an independent family within the garfish species. Phylogenetically , however, as a sister group of Belone and Petalichthys, they belong to the garfish (Belonidae), which are a paraphyletic taxon without including the ( monophyletic ) mackerel . There are two genera with two species each , one of which is divided into two subspecies.

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Individual evidence

  1. ↑ NR Lovejoy, M. Pour Iran, BB & Collette; Phylogeny and Jaw Ontogeny of Beloniform Fishes PDF

Web links

Commons : Mackerel pike (Scomberesocidae)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files