Scomber australasicus
Slimy mackerel | Chub Mackerel | Common Mackerel | Japanese Mackerel | Pacific Mackerel | Slimies | Spotted Chub Mackerel
Same Genus
Distribution
Temperate Australasia, Temperate northern Pacific, Tropical Eastern Pacific, Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Streamlined bodies with wavy bars along the back, spots in the lower region of the sides, and five to six finlets in front of the tail. Adults occur in large schools off the southern Australian coastline while small animals are often found inshore. The species has an oily flesh and is generally used as bait or for canning rather than eaten fresh.
Information
Max Size: 44 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 13.8-28.1°C
Depth: 0-200 m
Habitat Generalization Index: N/A
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Occurrence: Infrequent (2.8% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Large aggregations (104 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney