Greenback horse mackerel
📖 Overview
Adults are commonly found near the bottom, in midwater and occasionally at the surface in continental shelf waters . They form pelagic schools for most of the year but may move close to the sea bed during winter . Generally found at less than 300 m water depth with temperature less than 16° C . Juveniles inhabit coastal and estuarine waters although they may sometimes be found offshore . Adults feed mostly during the day mainly on krill and other planktonic crustaceans, light fish (Sternoptychidae) and lantern fish (Myctophidae) at the edge of the continental shelf .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 29 - 35; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 24 - 29; Vertebrae: 24. Adults are elongate and slightly compressed, and have a primary lateral line with 71-89 scutes, and a secondary lateral line reaching to below dorsal-fin rays 7-9 .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Greenback horse mackerel is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Eggs and sperm are released amongst schooling fish, possibly deep in the water column near the edge of the continental shelf. Eggs are distributed between the surface and the thermocline and larvae are carried inshore by currents.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; depth range 27 - 460 m , usually ? - 300 m . Temperate; ? - 16°C ; 9°S - 53°S, 112°E - 177°E Southwest Pacific: Western Australia to New South Wales, including New Zealand.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Chows · Common Jack Mackerel · Cowan Young · Greenback Scad · Horse Mackerel · Jack Mackerel · Scad · Scaly Mackerel · greenback horse mackerel |
| 🌍CES | kranas zelenohřbetý |
| 🇫🇷French | Chinchard dos vert |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | ミナミマアジ |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Carapau-prateado |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Южная ставрида |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 青背竹筴魚 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caranx declivis | Jenyns | 1841 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 14 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Greenback horse mackerel ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.