Species: Scomberomorus cavalla, King Mackerel

Scomberomorus cavalla (Cuvier, 1829)

King Mackerel

Elongate, strongly compressed; snout shorter than rest of head; no fatty eyelid; rear of top jawbone exposed when mouth is closed; teeth strong, compressed, triangular or knife-like; gill rakers 6-11 (0-2+5-9); 2 dorsals very close together the first relatively low with XIV-XVI spines; second dorsal higher than first, with 16-20 (usually 15) rays followed by 8-10 finlets; anal fin similar in shape and height to second dorsal, with 16-20 rays followed by 9-10 finlets; pectoral fins without scales except on bases; 1 large + 2 small keels on tail base; tail fin deeply forked; no developed corselet of scales; lateral line, curves down abruptly under 2nd dorsal fin.

Back iridescent blue-green; adult without spots (young with yellow spots like S. maculatus); front of dorsal fin same color as rest of fin, not black.

Size: to 184 cm; 45 kg.

Habitat: coastal surface pelagic; occurs singly or in small groups; often around outer reefs.

Depth: 0-200 m.

Massachusetts to central Brazil.