False scad
📖 Overview
Form schools. They occur frequently near the bottom, mostly in depths of 30 to 50 m. Also pelagic and found near the surface at times. Entering brackish-water lagoons and estuaries . Feed on small fish and invertebrates . Spawning grounds are located in shallow waters . Eggs are pelagic .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28 - 32; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 25 - 28. Diagnosis: body elongate and slightly compressed, its depth comprised from 3.8 to 4.4 times in fork length; eye posteriorly with a well developed adipose eyelid; 2 well separated dorsal fins, 1st with 8 spines, 2nd with 1 spine and 28-32 soft rays; anal fin with 2 detached spines, followed by 1 spine and 25-28 soft rays; last dorsal and anal ray transformed into a partially separate finlet, connected to the preceding ray by a low interradial membrane; pectoral fins short (comprised from 1.0 to 1.2 times in head length); scales small and cycloid; curved part of lateral line with 45-55 scales and 0-3 scutes, straight part with 0-8 scales and 24-32 scutes . Coloration: back brownish to olivaceous, sides light olivaceous to whitish; a narrow yellowish band sometimes extending from head to caudal-fin base; a black spot on upper margin of gill cover; a black blotch with a narrow light distal margin present on second dorsal-fin lobe .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for False scad is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
A partial spawner .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; depth range 30 - 200 m , usually 30 - 50 m . Subtropical; 15°C - 22°C ; 39°N - 22°S, 19°W - 36°E south to Namibia (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
small fish and invertebrates (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"False scad is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 19.1 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 342 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for False scad has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | False scad · Pollock · Spotfin Scad · Ten-finned Horse Mackerel · Yellow Horse Mackerel |
| 🇩🇪German | Gestreifter stöcker · Jurel Real · Mascarela Real |
| 🌍ELL | Πρασινοκοκκάλι |
| 🇫🇷French | Carangue Jaune · Chinchard · Chinchard Jaune · Comete coussut · Saurel |
| 🌍HEB | צנינית סנפירנית |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Carango ronco |
| 🌍MLT | Sawrella imperjali · Sawrella imperjali tat-tikka sewda |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | gele horsmakreel · valse horsmakreel |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Karanks chropik |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Charro molar · Charro-amarelo · Charro-espanhol · Charro-francês · Charro-molar |
| 🌍RON | Stavrid galben |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Carango Ronco · Jurel Amarillo · Jurel real · Jurela · Macarela real |
| 🌍TUR | kral balik |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 691 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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