Family: SCOMBRIDAE, Bonitos, Mackerel Tuna, Mackerels, Tunas, Wahoo

FAMILY SCOMBRIDAE

TUNAS, BONITOS, MACKERELS, WAHOO

Scombrids are medium to large fishes (up to 3 m) with elongate, fusiform, sometimes moderately compressed bodies; snout pointed; sometimes a clear fatty eyelid; mouth moderately large, top jaw beak-like at front; 2, usually separated, dorsal fins that fold into grooves; 5-12 distinct finlets behind the 2nd dorsal and anal fins; pelvic fins 6 rays, under pectoral fins; tail base slender, with 2 small keels on each side, sometimes a larger keel between those; tail fin deeply forked; scales small and smooth, either covering body evenly, or only in a scaly corselet behind head; lateral line simple, complete.

Worldwide the group contains 51 species in 15 genera. In our region 17 species from eight genera are known.

PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON, AFTER COLLETTE (2002)