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Species: Scomberesox saurus, Atlantic Saury

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both jaws in long beak, lower projects
D & A: 5-6 finlets behind
small teeth

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Scomberesox saurus (Walbaum, 1792)

Atlantic Saury

Body elongate, fusiform, compressed, tapering at both ends; upper and lower jaws prolonged into a beak, lower jaw projecting; teeth small, pointed; 34-45 gill rakers; pelvic fins at center of body; dorsal and anal fins small, at rear of body, origin of dorsal behind that of anal, orsal 9-12 + finlets, anal 12-13 plus finlets, both fins followed by 5-6 separate finlets; tail fin strongly forked, symmetrical; body covered with small scales, patch of scales on operculum; scales before dorsal fin 73-81.

Olive green above; side of body with a silver stripe at eye level; a dark green spot above the base of each pectoral fin; dorsal fin greenish; lower body silvery, with gold tones. Young have dark blue backs and silver sides.

Reaches 85 cm.

Lives in offshore surface waters.

Depth range: 0-30 m.

Antitropical in temperate areas of the Atlantic; the eastern US to Venezuela.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Offshore
  • Offshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Near Surface
  • Surface
  • Water column only
Habitat
  • Water column
FishBase Habitat
  • Pelagic
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Data
  • Planktivore
Diet
  • Data
  • Zooplankton
  • Bony fishes
  • Pelagic fish larvae
  • Pelagic jellyfish/ctenophores
Egg Type
  • Data
  • Pelagic
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Circumtropical ( Indian + Pacific + Atlantic Oceans)
  • Greater Caribbean non-endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • Extends North of GC
  • GC non-endemic
  • Island (s)
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
  • Temperate (>35N)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 85
Depth Range Min
  • 0
Depth Range Max
  • 30