School Mackerel, Scomberomorus queenslandicus Munro 1943

Other Names: Blotched Mackerel, Doggie, Doggie Mackerel, Queensland Mackerel, Queensland School Mackerel, School Spanish-mackerel, Shiny Mackerel, Snook

School Mackerel, Scomberomorus queenslandicus. Source: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO. License: CC BY Attribution-Noncommercial

Summary:

This popular recreational species is considered to be an excellent table fish.

Cite this page as:

Dianne J. Bray & S. Schultz, Scomberomorus queenslandicus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 13 Oct 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/2544

School Mackerel, Scomberomorus queenslandicus Munro 1943

More Info

Distribution	Known only from tropical and subtropical waters of northern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea; found in Australian waters from Shark Bay (WA) to Sydney (NSW). An epipelagic, neritic schooling species that follows their baitfish prey into bays and estuaries during the austral winter and spring.
Features	Meristic features: Dorsal-fin rays: XVI-XVIII, 17-19 + 9-11 finlets Anal-fin rays: 16-20 + 9-11 finlets Pectoral-fin rays: 21-23 Vertebrae: 48-49 Gill rakers: 3-9 Body elongate and strongly compressed. Both jaws with a single series of 5-38 sharp triangular teeth. Body covered in small scales, no anterior corselet present. Single lateral line gradually curving down toward caudal peduncle. Caudal peduncle with well-developed keel, flanked on each side by a smaller keel. Swimbladder absent.
Size	To at least 100 cm and 8 kg.
Colour	Dark bluish-green above, sides silvery with about three indefinite rows of greyish-bronze blotches (absent in juveniles less than 95 mm); membrane of first dorsal fin black, with white patch between sixth and last dorsal spine. Second dorsal fin, dorsal finlets, pectoral fins and caudal fin grey; pelvic fins, anal fin and anal finlets white.
Feeding	Feeds predominantly on baitfishes such as clupeoids and anchovies. During the larval stage this species feeds on other larval fishes and invertebrates.
Biology	Females attain maturity between 401 and 450 mm, males between 351 and 400 mm (fork lengths). In Queensland waters, spawning occurs between October and January.
Fisheries	Although not targetted commercially, this species is taken as bycatch in the Spanish Mackerel fishery.
Conservation	EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed IUCN Red List : Least COncern
Etymology	The specific name queenslandicus refers to the type locality.
Species Citation	Scomberomorus (Cybium) queenslandicus Munro 1943, Mem. Queensl. Mus. 12(2): 82, Pls. 7 (fig. B), 8 (fig. 1). Tyep locality: Cape Cleveland, northern Queensland, Australia.
Author	Dianne J. Bray & S. Schultz

School Mackerel, Scomberomorus queenslandicus Munro 1943

References

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