Mackerel

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Mackerel
Thyrsites atun

Thyrsites atun

Systematics
Sub-cohort : Neoteleostei
Acanthomorphata
Spinefish (Acanthopterygii)
Perch relatives (Percomorphaceae)
Order : Scombriformes
Family : Mackerel
Scientific name
Gempylidae
Gill , 1893

The snake mackerel (Gempylidae) are a family of predatory fish belonging to the group of perch relatives (Percomorphaceae). They live in warmer areas of the Atlantic , Pacific , Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea , in deeper zones below 100 meters. At night they wander upwards.

features

Mackerel have an elongated, flattened, or spindle-shaped body. The crack in the mouth, covered with fangs, extends to the eyes, the lower jaw of the pointed mouth protrudes slightly. The mouth cannot be turned forward (not protractile). The teeth are long, the gill slits large.

The first dorsal fin, carried by hard rays, is long, the second with soft rays is much shorter in many species. The caudal fin is forked, the pelvic fins are small or absent, the anal fin is symmetrically opposite the second dorsal fin, but it can also be absent. The anal fin is supported by three spines and 8 to 35 soft rays. As is typical for mackerel fish, the animals have small fins between the second dorsal or anal fin and the caudal fin. The pectoral fins are set high. The back is bluish or brown, the sides silvery. The 22 centimeter to 2 meter long animals are fast predatory fish that feed on other fish, crabs and squids. The flesh of the mackerel is oily.

Systematics

There are 26 species in 16 genera .

Head of Gempylus serpens
Lepidocybium flavobrunneum
Nesiarchus nasutus
Promethichthys prometheus
Rexea bengalensis
Ruvettus pretiosus
Thyrsites atun

Fossil record

With Epinnula cancellata from the lower Oligocene of Iran and Hemithyrsites maicopicus from the lower Miocene of Azerbaijan , two fossil mackerels are known.

use

The snake mackerel species Escolar ( Lepidocybium flavobrunneum ) and oilfish ( Ruvettus pretiosus ) are often marketed in Germany under the trade names "Butterfisch" or "Buttermackerel" as smoked fish, but also as frozen or fresh fillets. They come as bycatch from deep-sea fishing off the South African and Southeast Asian coasts. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment advises caution when consuming these fish, as secondary effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, headaches and cramps have been observed in Australia, which are probably due to the difficult or impossible to digest wax esters , which make up 90% of the oil or fat of these two fish species , caused. Orange, oily stools may occur after consumption. They have also repeatedly attracted attention due to their considerable mercury levels.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Karl Albert Frickhinger: Fossil Atlas of Fishes. Mergus - Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde Baensch, Melle 1991, ISBN 3-88244-018-X .
  2. ↑ Report from the BfR

Web links

Commons : Mackerel  - Collection of images, videos and audio files