Species: Scomberomorus maculatus, Atlantic spanish mackerel

Scomberomorus maculatus (Mitchill, 1815)

Atlantic spanish 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 11-16 (1-4+8-12); 2 dorsal fins, very close together the first relatively low with XVII-XIX spines; second dorsal higher than first, with 17-20 (usually 18 or more) rays followed by 8-9 finlets; anal fin similar in shape and height to second dorsal, with 16-20 rays followed by 8-9 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 gradually down towards tail base.