Occurs in surface waters both near and far from the coast (Ref. 5217). Forms schools. Capable of leaping out and gliding for long distances above the water. Seasonal variation in abundance was noted in the eastern Caribbean countries, a phenomenon that may be due to post-spawning mortality (Ref. 6838). The most important commercial fish species of the eastern Caribbean (Ref. 6504). Considered a good food fish; marketed fresh.

Western Atlantic: Western Bank, Gulf Stream off Virginia, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to northern Brazil, including the Caribbean Sea

Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, North West Atlantic

Eastern Atlantic: Guinea to Angola. Western Atlantic: Gulf Stream off Virginia, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to northern Brazil (Ref. 7251), including the Caribbean Sea (Ref. 3720). Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Indo-Pacific: Arabian Sea (Ref. 26165).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 11 - 12

30.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 7251)); max. reported age: 1 years (Ref. 6503)

Body elongate, thick, somewhat flattened ventrally; snout shorter than eye, blunt; palatine teeth usually absent; dorsal and anal fins set far back on body, their bases short; dorsal fin low, rays at anterior end the longest; anal fin origin slightly before, or 1 or 2 rays behind dorsal fin origin; pectoral fins strikingly long, 60 to 70 % of SL, only first ray unbranched; pelvic fins large, reaching well beyond anal fin origin; more than 25 scale rows of predorsal scales; dorsally, the color is usually iridescent blue or green in life; dorsal fin colorless or only slightly pigmented; pectoral fins dark, with a pale basal triangle and a narrow white margin (on trailing edge when extended) (Ref. 3720).

nektonic

Occurs in surface waters both near and far from the coast.

Depth range based on 40 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 25 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0 - 5517
  Temperature range (°C): 1.742 - 27.525
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.381 - 30.018
  Salinity (PPS): 34.341 - 36.566
  Oxygen (ml/l): 2.884 - 5.803
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.057 - 1.770
  Silicate (umol/l): 1.044 - 64.837

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0 - 5517

Temperature range (°C): 1.742 - 27.525

Nitrate (umol/L): 0.381 - 30.018

Salinity (PPS): 34.341 - 36.566

Oxygen (ml/l): 2.884 - 5.803

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.057 - 1.770

Silicate (umol/l): 1.044 - 64.837
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine; depth range 100 - ? m (Ref. 5217)

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Feeds on fish and copepods (Ref. 8995).

Spawns on the water surface and to a depth of 20 m (Ref. 6834). Post-spawning mortality may explain the disappearance of mature cohorts at the close of the spawning season in June (Ref. 6838).

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 5
Species With Barcodes: 1

Not Evaluated

fisheries: commercial; bait: usually