Scomberomorus
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| Scomberomorus Temporal range: [1]
| |
|---|---|
| Scomberomorus cavalla | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scombriformes |
| Family: | Scombridae |
| Subfamily: | Scombrinae |
| Tribe: | Scomberomorini |
| Genus: | Scomberomorus Lacepède, 1801 |
| Type species | |
| S. plumierii Lacepède, 1801
| |
| Species | |
|
See text. | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Scomberomorus is a genus of ray-finned bony fish in the mackerel family, Scombridae. More specifically, it is a member of the tribe Scomberomorini, commonly known as the Spanish mackerels.
Species
[edit]Scomberomorus includes 19 species:[2][3]
- Arabian sparrow seer, S. avirostrus Abdussamad, Toji, Margaret, Mini, Rajesh, Azeez, Vinothkumar, Retheesh, Abbas, Shihab, Sneha, Prathibha & Gopalakrishnan, 2023[4]
- Serra Spanish mackerel, S. brasiliensis Collette, Russo & Zavala-Camin, 1978
- King mackerel, S. cavalla (Cuvier, 1829)
- Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel, S. commerson (Lacépède, 1800)
- Monterrey Spanish mackerel, S. concolor (Lockington, 1879)
- Indo-Pacific king mackerel, S. guttatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
- Korean seerfish, S. koreanus (Kishinouye, 1915)
- S. leopardus (Shaw, 1803)[4]
- Streaked seerfish, S. lineolatus (Cuvier, 1829)
- Atlantic Spanish mackerel, S. maculatus (Couch, 1832)
- Papuan seerfish, S. multiradiatus Munro, 1964
- Australian spotted mackerel, S. munroi Collette & Russo, 1980
- Japanese Spanish mackerel, S. niphonius (Cuvier, 1832)
- Kanadi kingfish, S. plurilineatus Fourmanoir, 1966
- Queensland school mackerel, S. queenslandicus Munro, 1943
- Cero mackerel, S. regalis (Bloch, 1793)
- Broadbarred king mackerel, S. semifasciatus (Macleay, 1883)
- Pacific sierra, S. sierra Jordan & Starks, 1895
- Chinese seerfish, S. sinensis (Lacépède, 1800)
- West African Spanish mackerel, S. tritor (Cuvier, 1832)
The following fossil species are also known:[5]
- †Scomberomorus avitus Bannikov, 1985 - earliest Eocene (Ypresian) of Turkmenistan[6]
- †Scomberomorus bleekeri (Storms, 1897) - middle Eocene of Belgium[7], early to middle Eocene of the eastern United States (Alabama, Virginia, New Jersey)[8][9]
- †Scomberomorus dumonti (van Beneden, 1871) - Early Oligocene of Belgium[7] & France[10]
- †Scomberomorus lingulatus (von Meyer, 1847) - Early Oligocene of France & Germany[10][11]
- †Scomberomorus saevus Bannikov, 1982 - late Eocene (Priabonian) of Kazakhstan
- †Scomberomorus stormsi (Leriche, 1905) - middle Eocene of Belgium[12], early to middle Eocene of the eastern United States (Alabama, Virginia, New Jersey)[8][9]
The fossil species S. bartonensis (Woodward, 1901) and S. excelsus (Woodward, 1901) from the early Eocene-aged London Clay are known from non-diagnostic material and thus their status as distinct species is uncertain, although they are at least considered a representative of the genus as Scomberomorus "sp. 1".[5][13] Another undescribed fossil Scomberomorus known from indeterminate remains is S. "sp. 2" from the Early Miocene of Malta.[5]
As food
[edit]Scomberomorus are consumed in Taiwan and Chaoshan as Majiao Yu (simplified Chinese: 马鲛鱼; traditional Chinese: 馬鮫魚) or Tutuo Yu (Chinese: 土魠魚), often prepared pan-fried or deep-fried and then served with soup.[14][15] In Jiaodong Peninsula, they are known as Ba Yu (Chinese: 鲅鱼) and used as fillings in dumplings.[16][better source needed] In Japan, they are known as Sawara (サワラ) and often prepared grilled or as Sashimi.[17]
-
Scomberomorus soup in Tainan
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Ba Yu dumplings
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Sawara Saikyoyaki
References
[edit]- ^ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Scomberomorus". FishBase. June 2014 version.
- ^ "Scomberomorus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ^ a b Pskhun (2023-11-21). "Species New to Science: [Ichthyology • 2023] Scomberomorus avirostrus • Untangling the Taxonomic Ambiguities of the Spotted Seerfish, Scomberomorus guttatus (Actinopterygii: Scombriformes) with Description of A New Species from India". Species New to Science. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ^ a b c Moncsh, Kenneth Anthony (2000). The phylogeny of the Scombroid fishes (PhD thesis). University of Bristol. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ^ Monsch, Kenneth A.; Bannikov, Alexandre F. (2011). "New taxonomic synopses and revision of the scombroid fishes (Scombroidei, Perciformes), including billfishes, from the Cenozoic of territories of the former USSR". Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 102 (4): 253–300. Bibcode:2011EESTR.102..253M. doi:10.1017/S1755691011010085. ISSN 1755-6910.
- ^ a b Geology, British Museum (Natural History) Department of; Woodward, Arthur Smith (1901). Catalogue of the Fossil Fishes in the British Museum (Natural History): Actinopterygian Teleostomi of the suborders Isospondyli (in part), Ostariophysi, Apodes, Percesoces, Hemibranchii, Acanthopterygii, and Anacanthini. order of the Trustees.
- ^ a b Foster, Shana L. (2020-03-20). "Osteichthyans from the Shark River Formation (Middle Eocene) and Kirkwood Formation (Early Miocene) Contact, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA". Paludicola. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. 52 344334. GSA. Bibcode:2020GSAA...5244334F. doi:10.1130/abs/2020SE-344334.
- ^ a b Weems, Robert E. (2021). "ADDITIONS TO THE BONY FISH FAUNA FROM THE EARLY EOCENE NANJEMOY FORMATION OF MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA (U.S.A)". The Mosasaur : The Journal of the Delaware Valley Paleontological Society. XI: 117–152.
- ^ a b Pharisat, Andre; Micklich, Norbert (1998). "Oligocene fishes in the western Paratethys of the Rhine Valley Rift System". Italian Journal of Zoology. 65 (sup1): 163–168. Bibcode:1998IJZoo..65..163P. doi:10.1080/11250009809386808. ISSN 1125-0003.
- ^ Micklich, Norbert (1998-01-01). "New information on the fishfauna of the Frauenweiler fossil site". Italian Journal of Zoology. 65 (sup1): 169–184. Bibcode:1998IJZoo..65..169M. doi:10.1080/11250009809386809. ISSN 1125-0003.
- ^ Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie: Monatshefte. E. Schweizerbart. 2000.
- ^ Monsch, Kenneth A. (2004). "Revision of the scombroid fishes from the Cenozoic of England". Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 95 (3–4): 445–489. Bibcode:2004EESTR..95..445M. doi:10.1017/S0263593300001164. ISSN 1755-6929.
- ^ 土魠魚羹. Liberty Times. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ 极品海产?潮汕渔谚“好鱼马鲛鲳”,马鲛鱼究竟好吃在哪里?. 海鲜指南. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ 传承“中国味道”,鲅鱼水饺登上“世界餐桌”. Xinhua News. 21 November 2019. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ 鰆(サゴシ)コツ出汁入り濃厚カニ味噌汁の開発/鳥取県産業技術センター『日刊工業新聞』2017年8月30日(素材・ヘルスケア・環境)
External links
[edit]
Media related to Scomberomorus at Wikimedia Commons
Scomberomorus
View on GrokipediaTaxonomy
Etymology and history
The genus name Scomberomorus derives from the Latin scomber, meaning "mackerel," combined with the Greek moros, meaning "foolish" or "stupid."[5] Scomberomorus was formally established as a genus by the French naturalist Bernard-Germain-Étienne de La Ville-sur-Illon, comte de Lacépède, in 1801, based on specimens from Martinique; the type species is Scomberomorus plumierii, which is now regarded as a junior synonym of S. regalis.[6] Early taxonomic efforts often conflated Scomberomorus species with those in the related mackerel genus Scomber due to superficial similarities in body shape and habitat, as seen in initial descriptions like Bloch's 1793 placement of the cero mackerel as Scomber regalis. This confusion was gradually resolved in the 19th century through comparative morphological analyses focusing on features such as dentition, fin structure, and vertebral counts, culminating in refinements by naturalists including Cuvier, who erected the genus Cybium in 1829 for several species later reassigned to Scomberomorus.[6] Fossil evidence indicates that Scomberomorus has existed since at least the Eocene epoch, though early records from England are fragmentary and their assignment to the genus is uncertain; species such as S. bartonensis and S. excelsus were described by Woodward in 1901 from remains in the Barton Clay Formation of southern England. These early records, including premaxillae and vertebral elements, suggest possible early occurrences but require further study to confirm the genus's persistence and morphological stability over millions of years within the Scombridae family.[7]Classification
Scomberomorus is classified within the family Scombridae, the mackerels, tunas, and bonitos, specifically in the subfamily Scombrinae and the tribe Scomberomorini, which comprises the Spanish mackerels. This tribe includes three genera: Scomberomorus, Acanthocybium, and Grammatorcynus. Scomberomorus is closely related to Acanthocybium and Grammatorcynus, sharing 17 osteological characters that support their sister-group relationships, but it is distinguished by dentition featuring strong, compressed, triangular teeth and a more robust, fusiform body shape relative to the slender form of Acanthocybium. Phylogenetic studies have shaped the understanding of Scomberomorus systematics. Collette and Russo (1984) established a morphological phylogeny based on osteology, meristics, and external features, recognizing the genus's monophyly within Scomberomorini. Recent molecular analyses, including DNA barcoding of mitochondrial COI sequences, confirm 18 species and reveal cryptic diversity, with phylogenetic trees supporting the genus's integrity while highlighting misidentifications among morphological forms.[8] The fossil record extends to the Eocene, with extinct species such as Scomberomorus avitus from the early Eocene (Ypresian) of Turkmenistan and S. saevus from the late Eocene (Priabonian) of Kazakhstan, though the status of some Eocene taxa remains uncertain due to limited material. Miocene fossils include S. chichibu from middle Miocene deposits in Japan.[9] Taxonomic debates have centered on subgenera. Munro (1943) proposed nine subgenera for Scomberomorus based on Australian species, accommodating 16 species at the time. Later revisions, including Collette and Russo (1984), simplified this by eliminating subgenera, treating the group as a unified genus supported by shared synapomorphies.Physical description
Morphology
Scomberomorus species possess a streamlined, fusiform body that is moderately compressed laterally, enabling rapid and efficient swimming in pelagic waters. This body form is covered entirely with small, cycloid scales (absent on the head), lacking a well-developed anterior corselet though with some larger scales around the pectoral fins. The caudal peduncle is keeled, with a prominent median keel flanked by two smaller lateral keels, aiding in hydrodynamic stability.[10][11] The fin configuration includes two separate dorsal fins: the first is spinous with 11-27 spines, and the second is soft-rayed with 10-25 rays, both followed by 5-12 finlets. The anal fin mirrors the second dorsal with 11-29 soft rays and a similar number of finlets, while the caudal fin is deeply forked. Pectoral fins are short, pointed, and falcate with 19-26 rays, positioned high on the body, and pelvic fins are thoracic with I,5 rays. A prominent lateral line runs the length of the body, typically curving gently downward toward the caudal peduncle, though it descends more abruptly in some species. The jaws bear sharp, compressed, conical teeth arranged in a single row, a trait that distinguishes Scomberomorus from other Scombridae genera, which often have multiple rows or canine-like teeth.[10][11] Internally, Scomberomorus species have short gill rakers numbering 1-27 (total) on the first arch, adapted for a carnivorous diet rather than filtration. A swim bladder is absent in most species (except S. sinensis), with buoyancy controlled by behavioral and structural adaptations. Coloration is characteristically metallic blue or greenish dorsally, fading to silvery sides and belly, with dark markings such as irregular bars, spots, or wavy lines that vary by species but serve as camouflage in open water. Sexual dimorphism is minimal, though females typically attain larger sizes than males across the genus.[10][11]Size and variations
Species in the genus Scomberomorus exhibit considerable variation in maximum body size, with total lengths ranging from as little as 35 cm in S. multiradiatus to over 240 cm in larger species such as S. commerson and S. sinensis.[12] Most species attain maximum fork lengths of 50–100 cm, though S. cavalla can reach 184 cm and S. regalis up to 183 cm.[12] Weight ranges correspondingly, with records up to 45 kg for S. cavalla and 44.9 kg for S. commerson.[13][14] Growth is rapid in the first year, often reaching 20–30 cm, and continues quickly up to age two, with individuals of S. commerson measuring 70–80 cm at one year and 100–110 cm at two years.[15] Coloration in Scomberomorus species typically features an iridescent blue-green or blue-grey dorsal surface transitioning to silvery sides with bluish reflections.[16] Species-specific patterns include numerous thin, wavy vertical bars on the sides of S. commerson, while S. maculatus displays irregular spots.[16][17] Age in Scomberomorus is determined through examination of growth rings in sagittal otoliths, which provide reliable annuli for estimating longevity.[18] Lifespans vary by species and region, typically spanning 10–20 years; for example, S. commerson may live up to 20 years, while S. brasiliensis reaches 15–26 years depending on sex.[19][18] Ontogenetic changes are evident in pigmentation, with juveniles often showing more pronounced markings that fade or become less distinct in adults; in S. cavalla, for instance, young fish bear small bronze spots in irregular rows along the sides, which are absent in mature individuals.[20]Habitat and distribution
Global range
The genus Scomberomorus is distributed across tropical and subtropical coastal and continental shelf waters worldwide, primarily within the 20°C isotherm, encompassing the Indo-West Pacific, eastern Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans.[21] This pantropical pattern reflects the genus's adaptation to warm marine environments, with 18 recognized species exhibiting a combination of broad-ranging and regionally restricted distributions shaped by oceanographic barriers and currents.[11] In the Indo-West Pacific, the most species-rich region, distributions span from the Red Sea and east coast of Africa through the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia, northern Australia, Japan, and the western Pacific islands. For instance, S. commerson ranges widely from the Red Sea and South Africa eastward to Fiji, north to Japan, and south to southeastern Australia, with historical expansions facilitated by ocean currents such as its recent entry into the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal.[22][11] Other species show partial overlaps, such as S. commerson with S. guttatus from the Persian Gulf to Taiwan and Japan, while endemics like S. queenslandicus are confined to northern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea.[11] The eastern Pacific hosts fewer species, with S. sierra distributed from California to Chile, including the Galápagos, and S. concolor endemic to the Gulf of California (extinct outside this area).[23][24] The Atlantic Ocean features disjunct populations in both western and eastern sectors, with the western Atlantic supporting multiple species along coastal waters from the United States to Brazil. S. cavalla occurs from Massachusetts southward to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while S. maculatus ranges from Massachusetts to Yucatán, Mexico, with seasonal northward migrations.[4][11] In the eastern Atlantic, S. tritor is found from the Canary Islands to Angola, though this representation is limited compared to other regions.[11] Fossil records, including Miocene remains from Japan, suggest ancient origins in the Tethys Sea, with modern vicariance resulting from the Miocene closure of this seaway and subsequent ocean basin widening, leading to isolated lineages in the Atlantic and Pacific.[25][26] Gaps in distribution are evident in cold temperate and polar regions, where no species occur due to thermal intolerance.[21]Environmental preferences
Species of the genus Scomberomorus primarily inhabit pelagic-neritic zones along continental shelves, typically at depths ranging from 0 to 200 meters, with a strong orientation toward surface waters.[3][27] These fish are commonly found near the edges of shelves, drop-offs, and shallow coastal areas, favoring environments that support their active swimming lifestyle.[27] They exhibit a clear preference for warm tropical and subtropical waters, with optimal temperatures between 20°C and 30°C across most species, though some like S. niphonius can tolerate down to 10°C in temperate regions.[28] Tolerance for lower salinity levels is notable, allowing entry into estuarine and coastal waters, often characterized by high turbidity that aids in camouflage and foraging.[27][3] Salinity preferences generally fall within 30–35 ppt, but fluctuations in brackish habitats are well-accommodated.[28] Schooling behavior predominates in open pelagic waters, facilitating efficient navigation and predator avoidance, while juveniles often seek refuge near reefs, mangroves, or shallow lagoons for protection during early development.[27][29] These species demonstrate sensitivity to temperature variations, which drive seasonal shifts in habitat occupancy to maintain thermal comfort within their preferred range.[28] As highly aerobic predators, they rely on well-oxygenated surface layers and show vulnerability to hypoxic conditions prevalent in deeper or stratified waters.[28]Ecology and behavior
Diet and feeding
Species of the genus Scomberomorus are carnivorous piscivores that primarily prey on small schooling fishes, including clupeids such as sardines (Sardinella spp.) and anchovies (Engraulis spp.), as well as carangids, with crustaceans (e.g., shrimps) and cephalopods forming secondary components of their diet.[30][31][32] Stomach content analyses reveal over 40 fish prey species in some populations, with teleosts dominating by weight (83-98%) across seasons and locations.[33][34] These fishes employ active pursuit predation, leveraging high swimming speeds to chase schooling prey in open pelagic waters, often utilizing ram ventilation to maintain oxygen intake during sustained chases.[35] Daily food consumption for adults typically ranges from 2-4% of body weight, reflecting their high metabolic demands as fast-swimming predators, though larval stages exhibit much higher rations exceeding 100% of dry body weight.[36][37] Ontogenetic shifts occur in feeding preferences, with juveniles initially targeting zooplankton and smaller invertebrates before transitioning to piscivory on larger fish as they grow beyond 40 cm in length.[38][31] Seasonal variations are evident, with higher consumption and shifts toward available prey like euphausiids or sand lances during spawning periods or migrations.[33][31] Scomberomorus species occupy trophic levels of 4.0-4.5, functioning as mid-level (mesopredator) predators that link lower trophic tiers like small pelagics to apex consumers in marine food webs.[22][29][32] ICCAT reports on S. commerson in the Mediterranean confirm this role through stomach content studies showing dominance of clupeoid fishes and shrimps, underscoring their opportunistic yet specialized foraging in dynamic pelagic ecosystems.[31]Reproduction
Scomberomorus species are gonochoristic, exhibiting separate sexes with a sex ratio close to 1:1 across most populations and size classes.[39] Sexual maturity is typically attained at 2–3 years of age and fork lengths of 40–60 cm, varying by species and region; for instance, S. maculatus matures around 40 cm, while S. commerson reaches maturity at approximately 75 cm.[40][41] These fish are batch spawners, releasing 2–4 egg batches per reproductive season, with spawning intervals of 2–6 days and peaks during warmer months, often summer in tropical regions.[41][42] Spawning occurs in coastal waters over reefs, shelves, or offshore slopes, where adults migrate to shallower, warmer areas to form aggregations in some species, such as S. maculatus.[41][43] Batch fecundity ranges from 0.5 to 2 million eggs per female, depending on size and species; for example, S. maculatus females produce up to 2.1 million eggs total across batches.[43][44] Eggs are pelagic, hatching into similarly buoyant larvae that experience high mortality rates exceeding 90% in the first few weeks due to predation and environmental factors.[45] No parental care is provided, aligning with the open-water egg-scattering reproductive guild observed in the genus.[46]Species
List of species
The genus Scomberomorus comprises 20 recognized extant species, according to the most recent taxonomic catalog.[47] Recent revisions have included the description of S. avirostrus and the resurrection of S. leopardus from synonymy within the spotted seerfish complex in 2023.[48][49] Notable synonyms exist for several species, often from earlier placements in the genus Cybium or Scomber.| Species | Authority and Year | Common Name | Notable Synonyms |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. avirostrus | Abdussamad & Toji, 2023 | Arabian sparrow seer | None |
| S. brasiliensis | Collette, Russo & Zavala-Camin, 1978 | Serra Spanish mackerel | None |
| S. cavalla | (Cuvier, 1829) | King mackerel | Cybium acervum, C. caballa |
| S. commerson | (Lacepède, 1800) | Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel | Cybium commerson, C. guttatum |
| S. concolor | Lockington, 1879 | Monterey Spanish mackerel | None |
| S. guttatus | (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) | Indo-Pacific king mackerel | None (post-2023 redescription) |
| S. koreanus | Kishinouye, 1915 | Korean seerfish | None |
| S. leopardus | (Shaw, 1803) | Leopard seerfish | None (resurrected from synonymy of S. guttatus) |
| S. lineolatus | (Cuvier, 1829) | Streaked seerfish | Cybium lineolatum |
| S. maculatus | (Mitchill, 1815) | Atlantic Spanish mackerel | Cybium maculatum |
| S. multiradiatus | Munro, 1964 | Papuan seerfish | None |
| S. munroi | Collette & Russo, 1980 | Australian spotted mackerel | None |
| S. niphonius | (Cuvier, 1832) | Japanese Spanish mackerel | Scomber japonicus (partial) |
| S. plurilineatus | Fourmanoir, 1966 | Kanadi kingfish | None |
| S. queenslandicus | Munro, 1943 | Queensland school mackerel | None |
| S. regalis | (Bloch, 1793) | Cero | Cybium regale |
| S. semifasciatus | (Macleay, 1883) | Broad-barred king mackerel | None |
| S. sierra | Jordan & Starks, 1895 | Pacific sierra | None |
| S. sinensis | (Lacepède, 1800) | Chinese seerfish | S. sinensis variants |
| S. tritor | (Cuvier, 1832) | West African Spanish mackerel | S. argyreus |
