Mackerel scad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mackerel scad |
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| Mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus) | |
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The mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus), also known as the speedo, is a type of fish that belongs to the Carangidae family. Even though it can be caught for sportfishing, it is often used as baitfish for bigger fish. People in Hawai'i, the Philippines, and the U.A.E. enjoy eating it. In Hawai'i, it's called ʻopelu, and in the Philippines, it's known as galunggong.
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Description of the Mackerel Scad
The biggest mackerel scad ever found was about 46 centimeters (18 inches) long. Their bodies are long and look somewhat round when you see them from the front. You can tell them apart by a small, separate fin located between their main dorsal fin and their caudal fin (tail fin).
Mackerel scad have 9 spines and 31 to 36 rays on their dorsal fins. Their anal fins have seven spines and 27 to 30 rays. The fins of the mackerel scad are a shiny black or blue-green color. Their belly is white. There is a small, black spot on the edge of their gill cover. They do not have spots on their lateral line. The tail fins of mackerel scad can be reddish or yellow-green.
Where Mackerel Scad Live
Mackerel scad can be found in most of the world's oceans. In the western Atlantic Ocean, they live from Nova Scotia and Bermuda down to Rio de Janeiro. However, they are not very common in the Gulf of Mexico. In the eastern Atlantic, you can find them near St. Helena, Ascension Island, and Cape Verde. They have also been seen in the Gulf of Guinea, The Azores, and Madeira.
In the Indian Ocean, mackerel scad are found in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They also live near South Africa, the Mascarenes, the Seychelles, and Sri Lanka. In the eastern Pacific Ocean, they are known from the Revillagigedo Islands, the Gulf of California, and the coast of Ecuador.
Mackerel Scad Habitat
Mackerel scad usually live in warm, subtropical seas. They can be found at depths up to 400 meters (about 1,300 feet). They like clear water and are often seen around islands. Even though some have been found at the surface, they are usually caught between 40 and 200 meters (130 to 650 feet) deep. They mostly eat tiny ocean creatures called zooplankton.
Importance to People
Mackerel scad are quite important for both fisheries (catching fish for food or sale) and sportfishing. People do eat them, often split open and fried. However, they are more commonly used as bait. This is because large gamefish like the blue-spotted grouper, giant trevally, and the onespot snapper all like to eat mackerel scad.
This fish is also used to make a special Japanese snack called Kusaya. This is a traditional food from the Izu Islands.
