King Gar, Scomberesox saurus (Walbaum, 1792)

Scientific name: Scomberesox saurus
Alternative name/s:
Billfish, Saurie, Saury, Skipper
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    26/03/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Scomberesox saurus Click to enlarge image
A King Gar trawled during the NORFANZ expedition between the surface and 1050 m, south of Norfolk Island, May 2003 (NMNZ P.39302). Image: K. Parkinson
© NORFANZ

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Scomberesox
    Species
    saurus
    Family
    Scomberesocidae
    Order
    Beloniformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 45 cm in length.

Introduction

The King Gar occurs in temperate marine waters worldwide.The species is dark blue, greenish or brown above and silvery white below.

Identification

The King Gar has a very elongate, compressed body. The toothless upper and lower jaws are greatly elongated. There is a single short-based dorsal fin positioned posteriorly on the body. This is followed by five or six detached finlets. The species is dark blue, greenish or brown above and silvery white below. There is a broad silver stripe along the sides of the body. The finlets and caudal fin are blue. There is a dark blue or green spot on the pectoral fin bases.

Distribution

The King Gar is a pelagic species that occurs in temperate marine waters worldwide. In Australia it is known from the central coast of New South Wales, around the south of the country, and north to south-western Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Predators

The species is preyed upon by Marlin and other large oceanic predators.

References

  1. Gomon, M.F. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.