Species: Decapterus macarellus, Mackerel scad

Decapterus macarellus (Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1833)

Mackerel scad

Elongate, slender, cylindrical; eye covered with adipose eyelid except for central slit; top and rear end of upper jaw straight, lower corner angled forwards; front of shoulder that meets gill chamber with 2 moderate sized papillae; gill rakers (including rudiments) 10-13 + 34-41; dorsal rays VIII+I, 31-37 (including detached rear finlet); anal rays II+I, 27-31 (including detached rear finlet); pectoral fin 58-72% of head length; tail base slender; tail strongly forked; lateral line with long, low arch anteriorly; scales in curved part of lateral line 68-79, followed on straight part by 19-33 scales then 23-32 scutes, total scales and scutes in lateral line (excluding caudal scales) 119-133; scales on top of head usually extend forward to level of at least anterior margin of pupil; branches of lateral line extending onto nape only.