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Scomberomorus sierra — Details

Pacific Sierra learn more about names for this taxon

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Overview

Comprehensive Description

Description

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Common names: sierra (English), macarela (Espanol), sierra (Espanol), carite (Espanol)

Scomberomorus sierra Jordan & Starks in Jordan, 1895

Pacific sierra

Elongate, strongly compressed; snout shorter than rest of head; no fatty eyelid; rear of top jawbone exposed; teeth strong, compressed, triangular or knife-like; 12-17 gill rakers; 1st dorsal fin with XV-XVIII spines; 2 dorsals very close together; 7-10 finlets after 2nd dorsal and 7-10 after anal fin; 2 small keels separated by third larger keel on tail base; corselet of scales obscure.

Bronze-green to greenish blue on back, silvery white on lower sides and belly; sides with ~ 3-8 rows of small round orange spots; outer half of first dorsal fin black, inner parte whitish; pectoral fins dusky.

Size: attains 112 cm and at least 7.3 Kg.

Habitat: occurs in schools in coastal seas.

Depth: 0-15 m.

Southern California to the Gulf of California to Chile, including the Galapagos Islands, Cocos and Malpelo.

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Biology

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A schooling species believed to spawn close to the coast over most of its range. Occurs near the surface of coastal waters to over bottom of the continental shelf (Ref. 11035). Adults feed on small fishes, particularly anchovies (Anchoa and Cetengraulis) and clupeids (Odontognathus and Opisthonema). The most abundant game fish along the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central America. It is an excellent food fish enough to support a commercial fishery. Marketed fresh and frozen; also used for ceviche (Ref. 9987).

Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen 1983 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(2):137p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 168) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=168&speccode=89

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Distribution

Range Description

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This species is endemic to the Eastern Pacific, and is found from La Jolla and Santa Monica in southern California (Collette et al. 1963, Miller and Lea 1972) and the Gulf of California to Antofagasta, Chile including the Galápagos, Cocos and Malpelo Islands.

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Depth

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Depth Range (m): 0 (S) - 15 (S)

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Zoogeography

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See Map (including site records) of Distribution in the Tropical Eastern Pacific

Global Endemism: All species, East Pacific endemic, Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic

Regional Endemism: All species, TEP endemic, Continent + Island (s), Continent, Island (s)

Residency: Resident

Climate Zone: North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California), Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap), Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos), Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo), South Temperate (Peruvian Province )

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Eastern Central Pacific: La Jolla in southern California, USA to the Galapagos Islands and Paita, Peru. Recently reported from Antofagasta, Chile. Many authors have erroneously considered this species to be a synonym of Scomberomorus maculatus, or a subspecies of it.

Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen 1983 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(2):137p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 168) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=168&speccode=89

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Physical Description

Morphology

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Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 19; Analsoft rays: 16 - 21; Vertebrae: 46 - 49

Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen 1983 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(2):137p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 168) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=168&speccode=89

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Size

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Length max (cm): 112.0 (S)

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Size

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Maximum size: 970 mm FL

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Max. size

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99.0 cm FL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 40637)); max. published weight: 8,160 g (Ref. 4699)

IGFA 2001 Database of IGFA angling records until 2001. IGFA, Fort Lauderdale, USA. (Ref. 40637) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=40637&speccode=943
International Game Fish Association 1991 World record game fishes. International Game Fish Association, Florida, USA. (Ref. 4699) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=4699&speccode=2590

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Diagnostic Description

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Interpelvic process small and bifid. Body covered with small scales. Lateral line gradually curving down toward caudal peduncle. Intestine with 2 folds and 3 limbs. Swim bladder absent. Pelvic fins relatively long. Sides silvery with numerous round brownish (orange in life) spots, three rows above lateral line, one above. The first dorsal fin is black distally and white at the base. The second dorsal fin is tinged with yellowish and with black margin. The anal fin is white.

Collette, B.B. and C.E. Nauen 1983 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(2):137p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 168) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=168&speccode=89

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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology

This is a schooling species that is believed to spawn close to the coast throughout most of its range (Collette and Nauen, 1983). It occurs near the surface of coastal waters to over bottom on the continental shelf. In Colombia (Artunduaga Pastrana 1976), adults feed on small fishes, particularly anchovies (Anchoa and Cetengraulis) and clupeids (Odontognathus and Opisthonema). Off of Mexico the spawning season extends from July to September.

In Mexico, gonad maturity in females begins in April with spawning taking place in May (Aguirre-Villaseñor et al. 2006). Maximum incidence of ripe females occurs between November and April in Colombia, with a fork length of 26–32 cm at first maturity (Artundaga Pastrana 1976). In the Gulf of California, the size at first maturity is 44.3 cm corresponding to an age of three years (Aquirre-Villasenor et al. 2006). Ripe females are found between late August and the end of November in the Gulf of Nicoya (Erdman 1971). Spawning takes place near the coast over most of its range, off Mexico in July through September (Klawe 1966).

Based on a maturity range of 1–8 years inferred from S. maculatus (Schaefer 2001), and an estimate of the average age of 50% maturity, a generation length of approximately 2–4 years is estimated. However, there is very little biological information to accurately determine generation length.

Maximum size is 97 cm FL, 8.2 kg. The all-tackle game fish record is shared by two 8.16 kg fish from Ecuador caught in 1990, one from Salinas, and the other from Isla de la Plata (IGFA 2011).

Systems

Marine

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Depth range based on 30 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 1 sample.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0.5 - 154
  Temperature range (°C): 25.094 - 25.094
  Nitrate (umol/L): 2.596 - 2.596
  Salinity (PPS): 33.457 - 33.457
  Oxygen (ml/l): 4.037 - 4.037
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.462 - 0.462
  Silicate (umol/l): 4.557 - 4.557

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0.5 - 154

Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

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Depth: 0 - 12m.
Recorded at 12 meters.

Habitat: pelagic. A schooling species believed to spawn close to the coast over most of its range. Occurs near the surface of coastal waters to over bottom of the continental shelf (Ref. 11035). Adults feed on small fishes, particularly anchovies (@Anchoa@ and @Cetengraulis@) and clupeids (@Odontognatus@ and @Opisthonema@). The most abundant game fish along the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central America. It is an excellent food fish enough to support a commercial fishery. Marketed fresh and frozen; also used for ceviche (Ref. 9987).

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Environment

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pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine; depth range 0 - 12 m (Ref. 5227)

Humann, P. and N. Deloach 1993 Reef fish identification. Galápagos. New World Publications, Inc., Florida. 267 p. (Ref. 5227) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=5227&speccode=13417
Riede, K. 2004 Global register of migratory species - from global to regional scales. Final Report of the R&D-Projekt 808 05 081. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn, Germany. 329 p. (Ref. 51243) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=51243&speccode=4683

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Habitat

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Salinity: Marine, Brackish

Inshore/Offshore: Inshore, Inshore Only

Water Column Position: Surface, Near Surface, Mid Water, Water column only

Habitat: Water column

FishBase Habitat: Pelagic

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Migration

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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.

Riede, K. 2004 Global register of migratory species - from global to regional scales. Final Report of the R&D-Projekt 808 05 081. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn, Germany. 329 p. (Ref. 51243) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=51243&speccode=4683

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Trophic Strategy

Feeding

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Feeding Group: Carnivore

Diet: octopus/squid/cuttlefish, bony fishes

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Life History and Behavior

Reproduction

Reproduction

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Egg Type: Pelagic, Pelagic larva

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Molecular Biology and Genetics

Molecular Biology

Barcode data: Scomberomorus sierra

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The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

There is 1 barcode sequence available from BOLD and GenBank. Below is the sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species. See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen. Other sequences that do not yet meet barcode criteria may also be available.

MFC184-08|MFC184|Scomberomorus sierra| ------------------------------------------CTCTATCTAGTATTTGGTGCATGAGCTGGAATAGTTGGCACAGCCCTA---AGCCTACTCATCCGAGCTGAACTAAGCCAACCAGGAGCCCTTCTTGGAGAT---GACCAAATCTACAATGTAATCGTTACGGCCCATGCCTTTGTAATGATTTTCTTTATAGTAATACCAATCATAATCGGAGGGTTTGGAAACTGACTTGTACCTTTAATG---ATCGGAGCCCCTGACATAGCATTCCCCCGAATAAACAATATGAGCTTCTGACTCTTACCTCCCTCTTTCCTGCTTCTCCTTGCCTCTTCTGGGGTTGAGGCCGGGGCTGGAACTGGTTGAACAGTTTACCCACCCCTTGCCGGTAACCTAGCCCACGCTGGAGCATCCGTCGATTTA---ACCATTTTCTCTCTTCATCTCGCAGGAATTTCTTCAATTCTTGGGGCAATTAACTTTATCACAACAATTATTAACATGAAACCCCCAGCTATCTCCCAATACCAAACACCTTTATTTGTTTGAGCAGTACTAATTACAGCTGTTCTACTGCTTCTATCACTCCCAGTCCTTGCCGCC---GGCATTACAATGCTCCTAACAGATCGAAATCTAAATACAACCTTCTTTGACCCAGCAGGAGGGGGAGACCCAATCCTGTATCAACACTTA-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- end --

Download FASTA File

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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Scomberomorus sierra

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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Species: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1

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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category

LC

Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version

3.1

Year Assessed

2011

Assessor/s

Collette, B., Acero, A., Canales Ramirez, C., Cardenas, G., Carpenter, K.E., Cotto, A., Medina, E., Guzman-Mora, A., Di Natale, A., Montano Cruz, R., Nelson, R., Schaefer, K., Serra, R. & Yanez, E.

Reviewer/s

Russell, B., Walker, H., Findley, L., Lea, B. & Polidoro, B.

Contributor/s

Justification

This species is widespread and population levels appear to be fluctuating at least in Peru, but is relatively stable at present despite an active fishery and is therefore listed as Least Concern.

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Conservation status

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IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed

CITES: Not listed

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Trends

Population

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Population

This species is frequently taken by anglers along the Pacific coast of Central America and is abundant enough to support a commercial fishery. FAO worldwide reported landings show a gradual, but variable, increase in landings from 500 tonnes in 1950 to 12,102 tonnes in 2006 (FAO 2009). These landings of this species appear to be fairly stable between 5,000 and 10,000 metric tonnes over the last 10 years (1995–2005). These data are mostly from Mexico and Panama, but landings also fairly stable in Nicaragua, Colombia and Peru. In 1995, the average catch in Colombia was 600 metric tonnes, and has reduced to 400 metric tonnes in the last five years (Acero pers comm 2008). There are large fluctuations in Peruvian landings, and there appears to be higher catches after El Niño events (Cardenas pers comm 2008).

In summary, the regional landing data show no clear trends with periodic fluctuations in catch.

Population Trend

Stable

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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats

This is an abundant game fish along the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central America, and it is important in commercial fisheries. It is caught by gill nets in artisinal fisheries throughout Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Colombia, with no fisheries regulations for this species.

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Not Evaluated

IUCN 2006 2006 IUCN red list of threatened species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded July 2006. http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=57073

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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions

There are no known species-specific conservation measures for this species. However, in Mexico, there is a sport fishing limit of 10 per day per person, and no more than five of a single species for all sport fisheries. In Peru, there is a minimum catch size of 60 cm and there is a maximum tolerance of 10% juveniles in the catch.

More research is needed on this species biology, particularly on age, growth, reproductive biology, and natural mortality rates.

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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems

Benefits

Importance

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fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

International Game Fish Association 1991 World record game fishes. International Game Fish Association, Florida, USA. (Ref. 4699) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=4699&speccode=2590
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 1992 FAO yearbook 1990. Fishery statistics. Catches and landings. FAO Fish. Ser. (38). FAO Stat. Ser. 70:(105):647 p. (Ref. 4931) http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=4931&speccode=228

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