Shark Mackerel, Grammatorcynus bicarinatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)
Couta, Large Scale Tuna, Salmon Mackerel, Scaley Mackerel, Scaly Kingfish, Scaly Mackerel
Click to enlarge image
© University of Guelph
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Grammatorcynus
- Species
- bicarinatus
- Family
- Scombridae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- It grows to 1.3 m in length and 13 kg.
Introduction
The Shark Mackerel is a fast-swimming pelagic species that occurs on the east and west coasts of northern Australia.
Identification
The species is olive-greenish above and has a two lateral lines, one along the back and the second branching off from the first below the anterior dorsal fin spines, crossing the belly and rejoining the upper lateral line below the last dorsal finlet.
Habitat
The Shark Mackerel is a pelagic species. The above video, which was captured with a pelagic baited remote underwater stereo-video system, shows a fish swimming in open water at a depth of 35 m. Footage courtesy of Julia Santana Garcon, Marine Ecology Group University of Western Australia.
Distribution
The Shark Mackerel occurs on the east and west coasts of northern Australia.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
References
- 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.
- Pepperell, J. 2010. Fishes of the Open Ocean. A natural history & illustrated guide. University of NSW Press. Pp. 266.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
