Species: Trachurus lathami, Rough Scad

Trachurus lathami Nichols, 1920

Rough Scad

Elongate, moderately compressed; upper and lower head profiles about equal; teeth small, a single row on each jaw; a small upper furrow but no papillae at front of shoulder at rear edge of gill chamber; eye with fatty eyelid; gill rakers 12-16 + 33-41; dorsal rays VIII + I, 28-34; anal rays II+I, 26-30; no finlets behind dorsal and anal fins; last ray of dorsal and anal fins about 50% further from the rest than they are from each other; pectoral fins longer than head, reach past origin of anal fin; tail base slender; tail strongly forked; well developed, vertically expanded scutes (large spiny scales) on both curved and straight parts of lateral line, 33-39 scutes (which may be overgrown with small scales in large fish) on straight part, total of 61-77 scutes + scales; scales obvious over all of body except just behind pectoral fin. lateral line moderately arched anteriorly; accessory lateral line extends back under between spine VIII and ray 4 of dorsal fin.

Dusky to dark blue to olive green on back, lower two-thirds paler; small narrow dark area over eye; no distinctive markings except black spot on upper edge of gill opening.

Size: reaches about 40 cm.

Habitat: a coastal pelagic, schooling species.

Depth: 5-110 m, usually near the bottom at 50-90 m.

Maine to Argentina.